Schinus molle     
California pepper tree   
Anacardiaceae Family     

Form: single or multistemmed tree, dark green, moderately weeping form

leaf form

Seasonality: evergreen
Size: 30-40ft with equal spread
Leaves: pinnately compound, linear, length varies from 6-12in, leaflets to 2.5 in long
Flowers: in leaf auxillary, off-white
Fruit: round reddish seeds (like bait salmon eggs), strong pepper scent
Stems/Trunks: gray when young, exfoliating with age for a appearance, cracks reveal reddish color underneath
Range/Origin: Peru, naturalized in Mexico and southern California
Hardiness: to low twenties

trunk detail note transition between young and older (shaggy) bark

LANDSCAPE VALUE:

• attractive shade tree
• tropical appearance
• of residential scale

CULTURAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Exposure: full sun, reflected heat
• Water: drought tolerant when established; best with regular irrigation to maintain ornamental quality, 2-3 times per month during hot season when young
• Soil: tolerant
• Propagation: seed, not easy
• Maintenance: low; some litter drop; support or train trunk when young; can be cut to ground to establish multistemmed form

Schinus molle

 
NOTES:

when choosing nursery-grown specimen, it is critical to select plant with sturdy trunk for this tree

susceptible to Texas Root Rot

overwatering leads to chlorosis and branch growth that is prone to breakage

return to common name index				return to Botanical name index
	browse by common name				browse by botanical name

This page was first created July 4, 2001 and last modified March 16, 2006.

---

Web page design and photographs by Toni Moore, Master Gardener
email to: tmoore1@flash.net

© 2001 - 2006 Arizona Board of Regents. All contents copyrighted. All rights reserved.