[Arid_gardener] RE: Arid_gardener Digest, Vol 38, Issue 28

[Donald Garnett]

I suspect that "American pepper tree" actually refers to the California pepper tree
(Schinus molle), which actually is of Peruvian origin. Both the California pepper
and Brazilian pepper are commonly grown in Arizona. We have a California pepper
in our yard here in Tucson, and it thrives on rainfall alone. Neither has anything
to do with black pepper, which is a tropical vine from southern India that can only
be grown in greenhouses here. 
 
Both produce pink berries that can be used as spice, although not as strong as
black pepper. The tree has to have female flowers to produce the berries - we
have never gotten the pink berries on our tree, which presumably has only male
flowers. The berries are supposed to attract birds - Dick must have some picky
bird visitors. 
 
The California pepper is attractive for its drooping, willow-like character. It needs
little water once it's established. It would be good in a roomy (20-40 foot across)
area where you can let it droop, bad in a high-traffic area where you would need
to prune it back constantly or near a pool. It is also sensitive to the Texas root 
rot fungus, which kills plants quickly if present. 
 
If you want an attractive tree that tolerates arid conditions, the pepper trees
are OK. Don't expect to forego buying black pepper, though.
 
      Don Garnett
      Tucson> Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2007 21:15:49 -0700> From: "Joe Cady" <waldal42 at msn.com>> Subject: [Arid_gardener] Pepper Trees> To: "Arid Gardener" <arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu>> Message-ID: <BAY116-DAV8FDFC9D8D105D5744387AD06D0 at phx.gbl>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"> > Arid Gardener:> > A friend of mine is trying to get me to put a couple of pepper trees in my yard.> This is the type of pepper tree on which one can grow peppercorns to use as> black pepper. He recommends either a Brazilian pepper tree or an American> pepper tree. > > Is this the type of tree that will grow well in Chandler, AZ or is someone telling> me a story? How much care is needed and are the peppercorns harvested from> the trees viable for using as ground pepper?> > Thank you for taking the time to answer my question.> > Joe Cady
>
>> Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2007 22:36:06 -0700
>> From: "Adelina Zottola" adelina at asu.edu
>> Subject: RE: [Arid_gardener] Pepper Trees
>>
>> Actually, I recall reading that the Brazilian Pepper Tree does yield
>> pink peppercorns that when dried and ground can be used as a spice with
>> a taste similar to black pepper ... amz
>> 
>>
>> Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2007 13:54:32 -0700
>> From: "Dick Gross" rkgross3 at cox.net
>> Subject: Re: [Arid_gardener] Pepper Trees
>>
>> One would have to be terribly hungary to eat the berries off those even as a spice.
>> Even the birds shun them.
>>
>> Dick
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