Pepper Trees

The Pepper Tree, or Schinus areira (Syn. Schinus molle var. areira) is a spreading, evergreen tree originally from South America. Pepper trees were widely planted throughout our district in the 1880s and 90s as a shade tree.

Pepper trees grow to a height of 6 to 15 metres and are semi-weeping in habit. The trees have willow-like leaves and small yellow-white flowers in spring that are followed by clusters of pea-sized pinkish-red berries. It is slow-growing and long-lived. It makes an attractive street tree, garden tree, and is valued for its dense shade. It’s for this latter reason that they were often planted at schools, churches and dairies and even though these buildings might have crumbled over time, pepper trees can still be spotted amongst the ruins.

However, pepper trees do have a dark side. The pepper tree is a host plant for scale insects that damage orange trees and is controlled in susceptible agricultural areas. Because of its tendency to sucker, it is considered an invasive species in Australia and certain other countries outside its native range. With their prolific berries and 4 to 6-inch clusters of flowers, pepper trees produce a lot of litter. Other problems associated with the tree includes the branches of the tree crack and break frequently, with or without agitation from wind.

If you have a pepper tree in your garden, then do be mindful of this last point. As our picture above, from nearby Boorowa shows, the breakage of large limbs can be dangerous and cause significant damage, in this case, to a neighbour’s shed. The best thing to do if you have an old pepper tree on your property is to get regular inspections from a tree surgeon and ask that cracked and damaged branches be removed.

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