Wild Lime

Wild Lime (Zanthoxylum fagara) also known as Cat's Claw for its claw-like thorns is a fantastic host plant for Giant Swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes) larvae, if you own a pair of leather gloves. Handling this plant will leave you frowning unless you use some caution. When the leaves are crushed they emit a lime-like aroma. Some people have reported skin irritation from the handling of this plant, so once again, please use caution.

Wild Lime is a Florida native plant with bright green alternate leaves that blooms with tiny yellow flowers in the spring. In the fall, small fleshy fruits mature to a showy black color. Wild Lime is wonderfully drought tolerant once established and should require no further watering.

Wild Lime is also closely related to another neat Florida native tree, the Hercules Club also known as the Toothache Tree.