help identifying tree

6 years ago

Hi all. Moved in about a year ago and this was already in place. At first was turned off by the VERY sharp thorns but after google researching I think it may be a silk floss tree?? Weird thing is this that it developed plenty of leaves all last summer but never fully bloomed so I never got to see it’s flowers; eventually lost all its leave starting beginning November last year or so and started to regrow late Jan early feb this year. However according to the online lit, silk floss is known for its autumn blooms and spring/summer hibernation so I’m really stumped as to what the true identity of this tree could be. Pics below, thanks in advance!! Ps this is present day Houston tx

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Comments (16)

floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
6 years ago
I wasn't familiar with Silk Floss Tree, so I looked it up. It has palmate leaves. Your tree has pinnate leaves so SFT is not your tree. Try Aralia spinosa.
carol23_gw
6 years ago
Zanthoxylum ?
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Embothrium
6 years ago
Yes, definitely not Chorisia or Aralia.
Myer R.
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks guys! Gonna take a look at all those now to try to solve this mystery
windberry zone5a BCCanada
6 years ago
It looks like it is going to bloom soon, it will make identification easier.
carol23_gw
6 years ago
It is not Aralia spinosa which has tripinnately compound leaves and the thorns look different as well.

http://forestry.sfasu.edu/faculty/stovall/dendrology/index.php/fact-sheets-sp-916/photographs/55-aralia-spinosa-devils-walkingstick
Myer R.
Original Author
6 years ago
Yes blooming will definitely make identity easier. I hope it actually does bloom this year!! Last year all it gave was mostly the pretty green leaves and it’s painful thorns >.
Embothrium
6 years ago
Flower cluster visible in second photo
Myer R.
Original Author
6 years ago
Zanthoxylum seems to be the closest match
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
6 years ago
Carol, I'm sure you're correct. I have no personal exoerience of any of these trees. I was dubious about Aralia since most of the images I found were tripinnate. But I also found pictures and statements saying they could be bipinnate. So I risked a suggestion. I'll be interested to see it in flower.
Myer R.
Original Author
6 years ago
I will definitely post pics of flowers when/if they come in! I must say, the idea of it being a silk floss was exciting but at this point I’ve grown too attached to my sour patch tree to care either way
carol23_gw
6 years ago
Flora, I just don't see Aralia spinosa as a street tree or tree for a small property . Where I've seen it it suckers like mad. I once grew one but it didn't remain as one and had to be removed. And it's a bit treacherous working around it.

Here's a blog with a follow up posting from someone else that once grew it.

http://usinggeorgianativeplants.blogspot.com/2014/07/giant-flower-at-last.html

Zanthoxylum info :

http://www.foragingtexas.com/2008/08/prickly-ashtoothache-tree.html
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
6 years ago
Do you know what, Carol? I think there are pix on the web labelled Aralia which are actually Zanthoxylum. Perhaps the fact they are both sometimes referred to as Prickly Ash in common parlance has muddied the waters.
Myer R.
Original Author
6 years ago
A little bit frustrating! So while the tree really honestly possesses characteristics from both aralia and zanthoxylum species, it looks nothing like the trees in neither of those blogs!! Well I can’t say nothing like them, but not enough for me to say if is a certain one over the other. The older part of the trunk has basically whittled down but I’m sure that’s common with any thorned older trees
Embothrium
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Maybe it's different in some parts of the US but otherwise in general the Aralia tree encountered in gardens is A. elata and not A. spinosa. Not that the tree being asked about here looks very much like either of those - it is instead almost certainly the toothache tree.

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Zanthoxylum+Clava-Herculis&FORM=IRIBIP
Myer R.
Original Author
6 years ago
I think it’s most likely the toothache tree as well. I’m just too scared to try it out for myself!