Peruvian Pepper Tree

Peruvian Pepper Tree (Schinus areira) is a fast, drought hardy shade tree that settles at about 10m tall and 8m wide in a garden. Fine drooping foliage hangs from arching branches, giving it the look of a willow without the water bill. On hot, dry, poor ground where most shade trees give up, this one makes a canopy.

Why you'll love it

• Shade where shade is hard to get. Heat, drought and poor soil tolerance let it perform on stony, dry sites that defeat most broad canopy trees.
• A weeping canopy. Long pendulous branchlets move constantly in wind, which softens hard architecture and long open driveways.
• Fast to a useful size. It puts on height early, so shade arrives in years rather than decades.
• Bird attracting. Cream flowers are followed by clusters of small rose pink fruit that birds work through in autumn.

Where it works best

Shade on open ground. Give it 8m of clear space and keep it away from paving, pipes and house slabs. The roots are vigorous and the tree drops steady surface litter, so it is a poor choice beside a pool or a formal terrace.

Driveways and avenues. Planted 8m to 10m apart along a rural drive, the weeping crowns meet overhead and shade the surface without closing it in.

Windbreaks. A staggered double row at 6m spacing filters hot dry wind across a paddock or an exposed boundary.

Growing Peruvian pepper tree in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun, in warm temperate, Mediterranean, arid and semi arid and subtropical gardens. It is frost hardy once established, though young trees appreciate shelter through their first winter inland.

Soil. Almost anything that drains, including shallow, stony, sandy and alkaline soils. Heavy clay that holds water in winter is the one situation to avoid, or plant on a raised mound. Mulch 75mm deep clear of the trunk.

Water and feed. Deep soak weekly through the first two summers, then leave it to rainfall in all but the longest droughts. Feeding is rarely necessary, and a lean diet keeps growth firm rather than soft and brittle.

Pruning. Do the work early. Select a single leader, remove competing stems in the first few winters and lift the lower branches to the clearance you want. Established trees shed small branches in storms, so keep the crown thinned rather than dense.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in a pack of six 200mm plants, in 45L, and in 200L. The 200mm plants are young and best for a windbreak run where you are planting numbers; the 45L is the usual single tree size; the 200L arrives as a formed specimen with a trunk and head already established. Growth is quick once the roots take, with most trees away strongly in their second season. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95, with advanced and large stock freighted at cost. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Browse fast growing shade trees
• Drought tolerant plants for dry gardens
• Plants for arid and semi arid climates
• How to choose a canopy tree for shade

Common questions

Is it invasive?

In parts of inland Australia it has naturalised along watercourses and is treated as an environmental weed. Check your local council or state weed listings before planting in rural inland districts, and remove seedlings if they appear.

Can I plant it near the house or driveway?

Keep it several metres clear of slabs, paving and service lines. The root system is strong and the tree drops fine litter year round, which suits open ground far better than a courtyard.

How much water does it need?

Regular deep watering for the first two summers, then very little. It is one of the more genuinely drought hardy shade trees once the roots are down.

Does it handle frost?

Yes, it is frost hardy once established and grows through cold inland winters. Young trees are the vulnerable stage, so shelter or wrap them in their first season if frosts are severe.