Tasmannia lanceolata
mountain pepper
Overview
Tasmannia lanceolata is an evergreen shrub in the family Winteraceae reaching 6-16 feet (2-5 m) tall and 5-10 feet (1.5-3 m) wide, with an upright, bushy form. Young stems are dark red. Leaves are lance-shaped, 1.5-5 inches (4-12 cm) long, leathery, dark green above and paler beneath, with a peppery taste when chewed. Plants are dioecious, with male and female flowers borne on separate plants. Small cream to greenish flowers 0.3-0.5 inch (8-12 mm) across appear in the leaf axils in spring. Female plants bear rounded black berries 0.2-0.3 inch (5-8 mm) wide in autumn, each holding several seeds, with a hot peppery flavour. Both the leaves and berries are harvested as a spice. Growth is moderate. Because the sexes are separate, both a male and a female plant are required for berry production, and male plants set no fruit.
Native Range
Native to southeastern Australia, in Tasmania, Victoria, and southern New South Wales. Grows in cool, moist mountain forest, rainforest, and gully margins, on damp, humus-rich acidic soils from about 1,300 to 4,600 feet (400-1,400 m).Suggested Uses
Grown in cool-climate native gardens, woodland borders, and bush-food plantings, spaced 5-8 feet (1.5-2.4 m) apart, where the leaves and berries are harvested as pepper. The dense form suits informal screening in shaded, moist sites. Heat and drought intolerance limit its use in hot, dry inland gardens.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6' - 16'
Width/Spread5' - 10'
Reaches mature size in approximately 6 years
Bloom Information
Flowers in spring, mainly from October to December. Flowering lasts about 3-4 weeks. On female plants, berries develop through summer and ripen to black in autumn, from March to May. Cool mountain sites flower and fruit later than lower, warmer locations.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
cream to greenishFoliage Description
dark greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 4-8 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
Grows in moist, well-drained, humus-rich acidic soil in part shade to full sun, with shelter from hot, dry wind. Water regularly, as the shrub comes from cool, moist forest and suffers in prolonged drought. Mulch keeps the root zone cool and damp. Few pests or diseases are significant. Both a male and a female plant are needed for berry set. The shrub grows slowly in hot, dry, or exposed positions and can scorch in full afternoon sun in warm climates.Pruning
Prune lightly after fruiting to shape the bush and maintain density. Plants reshoot from older wood after moderate cutting. Harvesting leafy stems for spice doubles as light pruning. Hard renovation pruning is tolerated but slows the following berry crop.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
fallwinter
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 7 gallons