# Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolia)

> A dense, multi-stemmed evergreen shrub or small tree of 3 to 10 m (rarely 15 m) with glossy aromatic compound leaves and bright red berries at Christmas that birds spread. In Brazil it is a common, useful native (aroeira) and the source of pink peppercorns. Elsewhere it is a notorious invader: Florida's most widespread invasive plant (Category I and on the state Noxious Weed List), a regional priority weed in New South Wales, listed under South Africa's NEMBA and a High Risk species in Hawaii. Its sap contains urushiol-like compounds that cause rashes and breathing problems.

Source: https://treerm.org/trees/schinus-terebinthifolia · Updated 2026-11-08 · License CC BY 4.0

## Facts

- Also called: Brazilian peppertree, Broad-leaved pepper tree, Christmas berry, Aroeira, Florida holly
- Family: Anacardiaceae
- Type: Broadleaf evergreen
- Mature height: 7 m; spread 7 m
- Growth: Fast growing; lives about 35 years
- USDA hardiness zones: 9 to 11
- Light: Sun or part shade
- Water: Low water
- Soil: Light, medium or heavy well-drained soils; tolerates seasonal waterlogging and acidity
- Native range: Native to southern and eastern Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and north-east Argentina; one of the most widespread invasive trees of the subtropics (also spelled S. terebinthifolius).

**Benefits:** Birds, Drought tolerant, Pollinators, Fast canopy

**Good for:** Hedgerow, Screening

**Watch out for:** Invasive elsewhere, Toxic parts, Allergenic pollen, Messy fruit

## Care

Do not plant outside its native range. Control seedlings before they fruit at about three years; cut large plants and treat stumps or inject stems, wearing gloves and long sleeves against the sap, and follow up on regrowth. In Florida a biocontrol thrips (Pseudophilothrips ichini) has been released since 2019. Only female plants fruit.

## Where it stands

- **Native:** Argentina (North-east Argentina); BA, Brazil; RS, Brazil; SP, Brazil; Paraguay; Uruguay
- **Adapted:** CA, United States (Introduced per WCVP)
- **Invasive:** NSW, Australia (Regional Priority Weed: Eradication in the Hunter, Containment on the North Coast (exclusion zone in Bellingen, Clarence Valley, Nambucca, Port Macquarie-Hastings; core infestation in Tweed, Byron, Lismore, Ballina and others); should not be sold in parts of NSW); Mauritius (Introduced per WCVP; invasive on Indian Ocean islands); HI, United States (Introduced and invasive per WCVP; HPWRA High Risk); TX, United States (Introduced per WCVP; invasive on the Gulf coast); South Africa (NEMBA 2020: Category 3 in Free State, Gauteng, North West, Northern Cape and Western Cape)
- **Prohibited:** FL, United States (On the Florida Noxious Weed List (Rule 5B-57; nursery sales prohibited, movement regulated) and the Prohibited Aquatic Plant List; FISC Category I; UF/IFAS Assessment: invasive)

## Sources

- https://plant-directory.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/schinus-terebinthifolia
- https://www.floridainvasives.org/plant-list/2025-invasive-plant-species/
- https://weeds.dpi.nsw.gov.au/Weeds/BroadleafPepperTree
- https://www.fdacs.gov/Agriculture-Industry/Pests-and-Diseases/Plant-Pests-and-Diseases/Noxious-Weeds
- https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/saf220858.pdf
- https://apps.worldagroforestry.org/treedb/AFTPDFS/Schinus_terebinthifolius.PDF
- https://www.gbif.org/species/3660419
- https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=275940