Trees 3-7 m tall, deciduous. Stems and branchlets with prickles; stem prickles with a flat base. Young branchlets pubescent. Leaves 5-13-foliolate; rachis marginate; leaflet blades sessile, opposite, ovate, elliptic, or rarely lanceolate, sometimes suborbicular near leaf rachis base, 2-7 × 1-4.5 cm, both surfaces pubescent or abaxial surface flocculent along midvein, midvein adaxially impressed, margin crenate. Inflorescences axillary but terminal on lateral branchlets; rachis and pedicel pubescent or glabrous. Perianth in 2 irregular series or 1 series, with 6-8 yellowish green ± undifferentiated tepals. Male flowers: stamens 5-8; rudimentary gynoecium 2-lobed. Female flowers 2-5-carpelled. Fruit follicles purplish red, 4-5 mm in diam., pustulose glandular, apex shortly beaked or beak lacking. Seeds 3.5-4.5 mm. Fl. Apr-May, fr. Aug-Oct.

The dried fruit follicles of Zanthoxylum bungeanum are used as a culinary spice and are particularly popular in Sichuan cuisine (Sichuan pepper). In Japan, Z. piperitum (Linnaeus) Candolle is sometimes similarly used.

Found in many habitats; below 3200 m. Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Liaoning, Ningxia, Qinghai, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, SE Xinjiang, S and SE Xizang, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Bhutan].