Schinus molle

Schinus molle, also known as the False Pepper Tree or Wild Pepper Tree, is a fragrant, ornamental evergreen tree native to South America, commonly planted in gardens in warm climates. It is easily recognizable by its architectural habit, with trailing flexible branches adorned with compound leaves made up of delicate leaflets, as graceful as fern fronds. Its cream-white flowering in elongated panicles is relatively discreet, but produces small pretty pink berries on the female plants. Adapting to most well-drained soils, it tolerates heat and drought once well-rooted.

Schinus belongs to the Anacardiaceae family, along with Cotinus, Pistachio and Sumac. The Schinus genus comprises 30 species of trees and shrubs native to a region stretching from Mexico to Argentina. The genus name Schinus comes from Greek and means "mastic tree" (Pistacia lentiscus), due to the resemblance of some species to this plant from the same family. S. molle is indigenous to tropical South America (Brazil, Ecuador, Peru...), where it grows between 1000 and 3400 metres (3281 and 11155 feet) above sea level, in arid or rocky soils and in drought-exposed areas. In its natural habitat, it can reach a height of over 10 metres (33 feet) and has many common names depending on the regions where it grows.

Under Mediterranean climates, this fragrant False Pepper Tree has a smaller size and reaches an average height of 5 to 6 metres (16 to 20 feet) with a width of 3 to 4 metres (10 to 13 feet). It has a particularly graceful habit with an often twisted trunk becoming quite massive at the base, and irregularly arranged flexible branches that cascade like small waterfalls. The beautiful light green leaves are 20 to 25 cm (8 to 10in) long and composed of numerous narrow leaflets. When crushed the foliage emits a peppery fragrance, hence the plant's common name. In spring, 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6in) long panicles appear, bearing small cream-white flowers. As Schinus molle is a dioecious plant, the individual plants are either male or female. In the latter case, the flowers develop into decorative small berries, measuring 5 to 8 mm (1in) in diameter which turn a pretty pink when ripe. Thanks to its extensive root system, both in width and depth, this small tree proves to be highly resistant to drought. With rapid growth, this Schinus also withstands pruning very well, even severe pruning, and easily regenerates. The small shoots that commonly develop at the broadened base of old trunks demonstrate this ability to resprout easily.

Schinus molle displays a relative hardiness, tolerating temperatures as low as -6°C (21.2°F) to -8°C (17.6°F) when mature, or even lower under optimal conditions (sheltered from cold winds, well-exposed to sunlight, well-drained soil...). It thrives particularly well on the Mediterranean coast. Highly decorative, quickly forming a venerable-looking trunk with peeling bark, the False Pepper Tree is a very attractive plant that brings exoticism to coastal gardens, as long as it is not directly exposed to salt spray. To create an incredibly exotic scene, it can be paired with other plants with truly distinctive features, such as the Cycas revoluta, a prehistoric plant that forms a dense tuft supported by a short trunk. Palm trees are also essential in this style, such as the Washingtonia robusta, which seems to reach endlessly towards the sky with its slender and tall trunk. And for the finishing touch, nothing beats the Banana trees with their immense leaves evoking tropical exuberance.