Tree of the Week: Brazilian pepper tree

Good morning, Joe Torre. It is a crazy age we live in, with banks failing and governments flailing. Maybe that's why I've found baseball so comforting this summer and now fall. Baseball, and Pieter Severynen's Tree of the Week, which remind us of the things that last long after the teaser rates expire.

Brazilian Pepper Tree – Schinus terebinthifolius

Imported as an ornamental tree in Florida in the 1840’s the Brazilian Pepper Tree thrived in its new homeland. With its clean look, brilliant green leaves and attractive red berries in winter this native from Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay was a great success. Its ugly side appeared only much later: aided by birds and mammals that spread its seeds, the tree is aggressively invasive. In Florida and Hawaii it is  overtaking native landscapes. Even here, in our drier climate, this frequently planted ornamental readily escapes given the right conditions, such as irrigated freeway embankments or stream banks. It should not be planted (although some people advocate planting male trees only).

The tree grows moderately fast to a 30-by-30-foot roundhead. Typically it only lives for some 30 years. It is very attractive when pruned, but messy if neglected, with thick evergreen foliage hiding the short, coarsely furrowed trunk or trunks. Branches are subject to breakage. The 5-8 inch long, non-pendulous, pinnate (featherlike) leaves are coarser, with larger, (1-2 inch) leaflets than those of the tree’s cousin, the California Pepper Tree; they smell somewhat like turpentine. Clusters of tiny white flowers in summer and fall are followed by red berries, sometimes used for Christmas ornamentation. The tree loves full sun, will take most soils, but needs water; it is not drought resistant.

The Brazilian Pepper Tree is a member of the Anacardiaceae family, the same family that houses poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac. Many people are allergic to all or parts of the tree, which can cause dermatitis. Use of its seeds as a pepper substitute is not advisable.

Thanks, Pieter.

-- Peter Viles

Your thoughts? Comments?

Photo Credit: Pieter Severynen

Comments

[syscom3]

Again, we have a non native species that isn't drought tolerant.

Time to hunt these trees down and get rid of them.

I see no reason to provide water for non-native tree's during this drought were having.

[Brent]

"It should not be planted"

Good advice there.

[Mike]

This particular tree is considered to be an invasive plant. It should not be planted in areas where it could spread to farmland or wildlands.

[MyLessThanPrimeBeef]

In the Amazon, there is a wood eating fish called Panaque. I wonder if they find the wood of the Brazilian Pepper tree too spicy?