Overview
Chinese Pepper Bonsai (Zanthoxylum piperitum and related species) is a small-leaved aromatic tree with textured bark and attractive compound foliage. It is best suited to indoor/outdoor transitional bonsai, informal upright and shohin. For UK growers, treat it as: Bright indoor or frost-free shelter in UK, summer outdoors.
Placement
bright light with some sun; protect from hard frost in a shallow pot
Watering
keep evenly moist but well drained
Feeding and fertilising
feed through active growth
Pruning and wiring
clip new shoots back regularly; wire young shoots gently
Repotting
repot every 2-3 years in spring
Propagation
seed, cuttings or air layers
Pests, diseases and common issues
aphids, scale, leaf drop from low light and cold winter stress