Schinus molle California pepper treeEvergreen...

Schinus molle California pepper tree

Evergreen drought-tolerant tree

At Mission San Luis Rey in San Diego grows the reputed mother of all California pepper trees. The story goes that, in 1830, a Spanish sailor from a trade ship (which the missions depended on for supplies) brought a tiny seedling to the mission that he had picked up in Peru. The tree now stands in the Inner Garden of the mission--35 feet tall with a trunk circumference of 18 feet.

California pepper trees grow anywhere in Southern California. The graceful, willowy branches cascade from a dark, coarsely textured trunk that grows in knots and turns. When caught by a breeze, the tree, with its bright green leaves, lends a calm, peaceful effect. During the fall and winter, tiny red fruit hang from the branches like beads on strings. Mockingbirds love the seeds--the juice content in the seeds gets them intoxicated.

Rugged, Drought-Tolerant

For its wistful, delicate appearance, though, a pepper tree is quite rugged. It takes to any kind of soil, and once established it’s drought-tolerant. It works well as a wind breaker, and it’s a good sound and dust barrier.

Sunset’s “New Western Garden Book” suggests planting a row of trees 2 feet apart and pruning them into a hedge.

A single pepper tree needs plenty of room; it is not suitable for a smaller back yard. It should be situated well away from driveways, pavement and pipes.

Now is the best time to plant a pepper tree, before the heat of summer. To plant: Use a backfill of two parts soil to one part redwood compost (steer manure in the backfill can kill the young plant). Water, and then deep-water every once in while. In the beginning its growth rate is slow, but then it speeds up.

Ask your nursery to order it for you. If you have no luck that way, Gardenland Wholesale Nursery, in Sylmar, sells pepper trees in 5-gallon cans. And Green Thumb Nursery in Canoga Park sells 5- and 15-gallon trees (the 15-gallon size is 10 to 12 feet tall).