Brazilian pepper-tree Schinus terebinthifolius
University of Florida, IFAS, Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants	St. Johns River Water Management District

Brazilian pepper-tree (Schinus terebinthifolius) is one of the most aggressive of the invasive nonindigenous plants in Florida. It is invading aquatic and terrestrial habitats, greatly reducing the quality of native biotic communities in the state. Brazilian pepper is from South America, and was probably introduced as an ornamental in the mid 1800s. Though this tree is not particularly cold-hardy, in 2001 it occurs as far north as St. Augustine on the Atlantic coast and Cedar Key on the Gulf coast of Florida.


How To Identify Brazilian pepper-tree




Brazilian pepper is a small tree, to 30 feet tall, with a short trunk usually hidden by dense intertwining branches. The leaves have a reddish, sometimes winged midrib. Leaves have 3 to 13 finely toothed leaflets which are 1 to 2 inches long. Leaves smell of turpentine when crushed. Flowers are white. The fruits are in clusters, glossy, green and juicy at first, becoming bright red. The red skin dries to become a papery shell surrounding the seed.


Here are Brazilian pepper trees invading aquatic situations on Cape Canaveral and the Kennedy Space Center.



Go here for more about plants of the Kennedy Space Center.


For general information about Schinus terebinthifolius, download this UF/IFAS-EDIS publication, Brazilian Pepper Tree, Schinus terebinthifolius, by D.W. Hall and V.V. Vandiver.

For control information about Schinus terebinthifolius, download this UF/IFAS-EDIS publication, Brazilian Pepper Tree Control, by K. Gioeli and K. Langeland.

For more information and pictures about Brazilian pepper tree, as contained in the Langeland/Burks book, Identification & Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas, download this Acrobat .PDF file.


For more information about a suggested Brazilian pepper management plan for the state, download the following report in the Adobe Acrobat format: Brazilian Pepper Management Plan for Florida--A Report From the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council's Brazilian Pepper Task Force, edited by Amy Ferriter of the South Florida Water Management District.


The UF/IFAS Assessment lists plants according to their invasive status in Florida. View the list here.

Click here to see the herbarium specimen image of the UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA HERBARIUM DIGITAL IMAGING PROJECTS.

---

Home