PlantFiles: Common Prickly Ash, Northern Prickly Ash
Zanthoxylum americanum

Here in the Twin Cities Northern Prickly Ash tend to be locally common, often located in floodplain and in certain swampy locations. They are easily identify by their thorns as in Minnesota thorny woody plants are rare - only wild roses are the other species but greenbriar - the thorny species - grows in the same habitation as Prickly Ash. During the growing season they can be difficult to id as they look like young ash species in their foliage.

This plant grows wild in my area around a couple of old limestone quarries and along some limestone cliffs outside Williamson, PA. I transplanted a few trees that were growing in the area that the county mows every summer during late June last year, where we had a near-record drought, and the only watering the plants needed was the initial one when I transplanted them. They have thorns on the branches, but they are no worse than those of your average rose bush, and the glossy green foliage and interesting berries (that birds seem to like) are well worth it. The shrubs/small trees will spread by roots, much like a lilac or elder, so that in time they form a nice hedge/small grove. They also tolerate extremely dry limestone soil as well as damp clay soil and are estremely drought tolerant, so I reccomend them for landscaping in difficult areas of your yard. According to several botanical publications, and my own experience, the trees like full sun to partial shade, but do not do not tolerate full shade....