Practical
Plants

Schinus molle

California Peppertree

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Schinus genus in the family Anacardiaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Schinus
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
vigorous
Height
8 m
Spread
8 m
Fertility
self sterile
Flower type
dioecious

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The seed contains an allergenic substance that can irritate the mucus membrane[7].

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The dried and roasted berries are used as a pepper substitute[10][2][3][4][7]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity. An (essential?) oil distilled from the fruit is used as a spice in baked goods and candy[4]. The fruits are pulverised and used in cooling drinks called 'horchatas' in S. America[6][10][4]. A wine is made from the twigs and another from the berries[6]. A gum that exudes from the bark is used for chewing[10][2].

Product or use
Condiment
Product or use
Drink
Product or use
Gum

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A resinous gum obtained from the bark has been used in folk medicine to treat digestive disorders[8]. A purgative known as 'American Mastic' is obtained from the tree[9]. This report is probably linked to the one above[K].

Product or use
Digestive
Product or use
Purgative

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An oil from the leaves reduces the surface tension of water[7].

Environment

Range
S. America.
Habitat
Dry regions in the Andes, it is found as a bush in dry lands but reaches tree size in dry river beds with accessible underground water[7].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - we have no information for this species but suggest sowing the seed in a warm greenhouse in mid spring. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter before planting out in early summer[K]. Cuttings of almost ripe wood, 8cm with a heel, August to early September in a frame. Fair to good percentage[11].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a well-drained soil in full sun[7]. It likes growing in sandy soils[5] and succeeds in a hot dry position[1]. A fast-growing tree[5] in its native habitat, though it is likely to be much slower in areas where it is marginally hardy[K]. This species is not very hardy outdoors in Britain, though it can succeed when grown against a sunny wall in the milder areas of the country[1][7]. The oily leaves smell and taste of pepper when they are crushed[9]. Dioecious, male and female plants must be grown if seed is required.

References

  1. Taylor. J. The Milder Garden. Dent 1990-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩1↩2

  3. Pesman. M. W. Meet Flora Mexicana. Dale S. King. Arizona. 1962-00-00

    ↩

  4. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩1↩2

  6. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩1↩2

  7. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  8. Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622

    ↩

  9. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩1↩2

  10. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  11. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩

Edit this page