Schinus MOLLE

Schinus MOLLE - Peruvian pepper tree, California pepper tree, Pink peppercorn tree, Schinus molle.

Schinus is a genus of evergreen trees and shrubs of the Anacardiaceae family, including about three dozen species. All of them originate from South America, and two species have spread widely across the subtropics of the entire world.

Plants are dioecious, with pinnately compound aromatic leaves and small white flowers in panicles. All parts of the plant contain essential oils and emit a characteristic resinous-peppery scent when crushed.

The fruit is a round single-seeded drupe with a thin fragile shell, pink or red when ripe. The fruits are gathered in dense pendulous clusters.

Schinus molle is an evergreen fast-growing dioecious tree up to 15 m (49 ft) tall, with drooping upper branches and rough grayish bark. The homeland is the arid regions of Peru and neighboring countries of South America.

Leaves are pinnately compound, 8-25 cm (3.1-9.8 in) long, of 19-41 narrow leaflets. Flowers are small, white or pale yellow, fragrant, gathered in panicles at the tips of weeping branches, blooming from April to July. Fruits are round, 5-7 mm (0.20-0.28 in) in diameter, initially green, turning pink, red, or crimson when ripe.

Schinus seeds are medium-small, rounded, with a firm coat, retaining germination capacity for about a year. Before sowing, pulp remains are removed and they are soaked for 12-24 hours in a weak solution of potassium permanganate or in a solution of a growth stimulant: SUPERthrive, HB-101, Aminozol, Epin, or Zircon. Scarification and stratification are not required.

Sowing is possible year-round. Sowing is carried out in a sterile sandy moderately moist mix to a depth of about 0.5-1 cm (0.2-0.4 in). The sowing is moistened from a spray bottle, covered with a transparent lid or placed in a propagator, and germinated in bright light at a temperature of 22-26 °C (72-79 °F), preferably with bottom heat.

Seedlings emerge in 2-4 weeks; individual seeds may delay longer. Crops are ventilated daily, condensation is removed, waterlogging is unacceptable. Pricking out is carried out after the formation of 2-3 true leaves into separate pots. In summer, schinus is also propagated by cuttings.

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The plant needs an open sunny location protected from cold winds.

The tree is thermophilic: it does not tolerate temperatures below -7 °C (19 °F), and in high humidity it is damaged near 0 °C (32 °F). Frosts primarily damage young shoots. In cold climates, schinus is grown in a container with a bright winter rest at 10-15 °C (50-59 °F).

Watering is moderate throughout the year; between waterings the substrate should dry out. The plant tolerates drought easily and does not require misting.

The substrate has no special requirements, but must be water-permeable, with added sand and perlite. Drainage is laid at the bottom of the pot.

Feeding with a low-nitrogen complex fertilizer is applied in summer once every two to three weeks; when planting in the ground, 2-3 kg (4.4-6.6 lb) of organic matter per plant is added.

Formative pruning is carried out several times on young plants to obtain a tree with a straight trunk. On mature plants, only dry and damaged branches are removed.

Special notes: Fruits and leaves of schinus are toxic to birds, pigs, and possibly calves, while in young children eating the fruits causes vomiting and diarrhea. The plant should be kept out of reach of children and domestic animals, and the fruits consumed only as a spice, in small quantities.