Japanese/Korean Pepper Seed

Zanthoxylum piperitum

Japanese Pepper is a deciduous shrub or small tree. It has pinnate shiny leaves which colour brilliant yellow in autumn. Both the bark and leaves are aromatic and the younger leaves can be used as a flavouring in Korean cuisine. Fairly vicious spines develop on the branch and stem undersides. If both male and female shrubs are present, the green/yellow flowers in April and May will develop into scarlet berries containing black shiny seeds – these are the peppery bits. So it is a good idea to grow several shrubs together.