Alternative Name(s): Californian pepper tree, Peppercorn tree, Peruvian mastic tree Family: Form: Tree Origin: Native to northern South America to Mexico Weed Type(s): Weed, Naturalised, Garden Escape, Environmental Weed

photo. C. Wilson

Notes: Pepper tree is a large spreading tree growing to a height of 12m. It has drooping fern-like leaves with many leaflets which are aromatic when crushed. Flowers hang in clusters with male and female flowers on separate plants. Flowers on the female trees develop into bright red berries with a hard stone. The seed is very hard and germinates best when passed through the guts of birds. A large number of seeds are stored in the soil.

Mature trees are resistant to fire and drought and are able to sprout from the rootstock if damaged.

Pepper tree is widely planted in homestead gardens and stockyards in dry areas of NSW, Victoria and South Australia. It has invaded lowland grassland and woodland and dry forest. It has been reported as spreading in riparian vegetation near Warwick in south-east Queensland and in old settlements in the Western Australian Goldfields region. It is native to South America and has been planted as a street tree in southern Europe.

Pepper tree was listed for sale in nursery catalogues in Victoria in the l870s and l880s and is still available for sale from many nurseries.

References:

Randall, R. P. (2002). A Global Compendium of Weeds. R. G. & F.J. Richardson, Melbourne.
Brookes, M. and Barley, R. (1992). Plants Listed in Nursery Catalogues in Victoria 1855 - 1889. Ornamental Plants Collections Association, Melbourne.
Blood, K. (2001). Environmental Weeds. A Field Guide for S E Australia, C. H. Jerram & Associates-Science Publishers, Mt Waverley, Victoria.