Schinus molle

Common names: Peruvian pepper tree; California pepper tree
Schinus molle (Peruvian peppertree) is an aromatic, evergreen shrub or tree (family Anacardiaceae) found in central and southern California. Along with Brazilian peppertree (S. terebinthifolius), Peruvian peppertree has escaped cultivation to become invasive.
Cal-IPC Rating: Limited?CDFA Rating: None?
Assessment(s)
Plant Assessment Form - Information gathered by Cal-IPC on the impacts, rate of spread, and distribution of invasive plants in California. Does not include management information.
Weed Management Notes
- Management Notes - Information on management techniques and effectiveness from the University of California Cooperative Extension’s Weed Research & Information Center.
Cal-IPC Newsletter Articles
- Lessons learned from a 12-year eradication program targeting 34 species. Knapp, John. Vol 27, Issue 1
- Don’t sell a pest: A new partnership to prevent plant invasions through horticulture. Connick, Sarah; Gerel, Mike. Vol 13, Issue 2
- Teaching weeds: California university invasive plant programs. Cole, Kristie; Molinari, Nicole. Vol 12, Issue 2
Cal-IPC Symposium Presentations
Presentations are linked where available. Where a presentation is not available, find more information by reading the abstract in the Cal-IPC Symposia Archive.
- Interactions between invasive Schinus molle (Peruvian pepper tree) with six plant species commonly found in southern California nature reserves. Banuelas, David (2019)
- Allelopathic impacts of Schinus molle on exotic and native plant communities in southern California. BaåÐuelas, David (2017)
- Partnering to prevent invasions of plants of horticultural origin. Connick, Sarah; Gerel, Mike (2004)
Other Schinus molle Information
- CalPhotos - Images of plants taken mostly in California.
- Calflora - Distribution map and records of this species in California.
- CalWeedMapper - Distribution map of this species in California with ability to determine regional priorities.
- EDDMapS - Distribution of this species in North America.
- Jepson Interchange - Information on this plant's taxonomy, biology, and distribution from UC Berkeley's Jepson Herbarium.
- USDA PLANTS Database - Information on identification and distribution, with links to websites in individual states.