Photo by: Kari Ruder, Hernando Chapter, FNPS
Photo by: Roger Hammer, Dade Chapter FNPS
Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

wild-lime, colina, lime pricklyash

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Zanthoxylum fagara

Family:

Rutaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

tree

Size:

5-20 ft tall by 3-12 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

yellow,green,NA

Fruit Color:

brown,black

Phenology:

Evergreen. Inconspicuous flowers mostly winter-spring. Fruits ripen in summer-early fall. Moderately long lived (Nelson 2003).

Noted For:

Aroma/Showy Fruitsagrance, Thorns, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Hedge, buffer or screen plant where its thorns will be an asset. Foliage is aromatic.  This author has one growing as a specimen plant and loves its shape and the shiny green rather lacey foliage.

Considerations:

Very sharp thorns.

Availability:

Native Nurseries, FNPS Plant Sales

Propagation:

Seed.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Usually moist, occasional inundation ---to--- Very long very dry periods

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Some tolerance to salty wind but not direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Lime Rock

Soil pH:

Suitable to Grow In:

9A,9B,10A,10B,11

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Caterpillars, Birds, Mammals

Larval host for giant swallowtail ( Papilio cresphontes ) and Schaus' swallowtail ( Heraclides aristodemus )in southern Florida.

Provides wildlife cover.





Fruit is used by birds and other wildlife.

Native Habitats:

Hammocks. Scrub.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

Fruit is edible, but is also a numbing agent. Powdered bark, leaves or fruit can be used as a spice. Wood is used for making furniture.

General Comments:

Fragrant flowers and crushed foliage smells like limes. Dioecious: male and female flowers are on separate plants.