ZANTHOXYLUM beecheyanum

Large shrub, semi-deciduous in our latitudes, but evergreen in its areas of origin coinciding with temperate or sub-tropical Asian areas (China and Japan in particular). Strongly branched and lignified already at the base, it has reddish stems with an erect bearing which give it a compact and rounded appearance and which, developing quite quickly, allow it to easily grow up to 3 m. The leaves, very small and pinnate, are beautiful bright green, glossy and with a very pleasant citrus scent: the tiny white summer flowers produce berries in autumn, used in oriental cuisine as a spice commonly referred to as "Sichuan pepper".

Preferring sunny and semi-shaded locations, deep and fertile soils, this plant can tolerate moderate summer droughts as well as a certain degree of winter frosts, as long as they are not prolonged and associated with high environmental humidity. Appreciated for its regular, dense and compact growth, it has recently impressed gardeners and landscapers by addressing the problem of low and fragrant green borders, where it can be considered 'queen' essence or to be associated with other Mediterranean species.