Schinus molle
Peruvian pepper tree
Overview
Schinus molle is an evergreen tree in the cashew family reaching 25-50 feet (7.5-15 m) tall and nearly as wide, with a stout trunk, rough furrowed bark, and drooping, weeping branches. The bright green pinnate leaves are 4-12 inches (10-30 cm) long, divided into many narrow leaflets that release a peppery scent when crushed. Small yellowish-white flowers hang in loose drooping panicles in summer, and female trees follow them with dense clusters of rose-pink berry-like drupes about 0.2 inch (5 mm) wide that ripen in fall and persist through winter; dried and sold as pink peppercorns, they have a mild peppery taste. The tree is fast-growing and drought-tolerant, with deep, aggressive roots that can lift pavement and invade pipes. The sap and crushed foliage can irritate skin, and the berries are toxic to some pets and poultry if eaten in quantity. Native to the Andes, it has naturalized and become invasive in parts of California, Australia, and southern Africa, where it spreads from bird-dispersed seed into grassland and riparian areas.
Native Range
Schinus molle is native to the dry Andean slopes and valleys of Peru and neighboring South America, from southern Ecuador and Bolivia into northern Chile and Argentina.Suggested Uses
Planted as a shade and street tree, windbreak, and specimen in dry, mild-winter regions, spaced well back from paving and buildings because of the invasive roots. The weeping canopy gives year-round shade and the pink fruit adds winter color. In many areas it is now avoided in new plantings because it escapes into wild land.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height25' - 50'
Width/Spread25' - 50'
Reaches mature size in approximately 20 years
Bloom Information
Small yellowish-white flowers open in summer in loose hanging panicles, with male and female flowers borne on separate trees. Bees and other insects work the flowers. On female trees the rose-pink berries develop through late summer and color in fall, then hang on into winter.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
bright greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Schinus molle grows in full sun on almost any well-drained soil, from sand to clay, at a pH of about 5.5-8.0, and tolerates poor, rocky, and dry ground. It withstands heat, wind, and prolonged drought once established and needs little or no summer water in a mild climate. The deep, wide-spreading roots seek moisture aggressively and can crack paving, lift foundations, and clog drains, a reason it is planted at a distance from buildings and pipework. It is frost-tender and grows in USDA zones 8-11, with young trees damaged by hard freezes. Fallen leaves and fruit drop litter beneath the canopy through the year.Pruning
Pruning is done in late winter or early spring to lift the weeping canopy, remove deadwood, and shape young trees. The branches are brittle and prone to wind breakage, so reducing long limbs lessens storm damage. Suckers and low growth are removed to keep a clear trunk.Pruning Schedule
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winterearly spring