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Pepper Tree

Pepper Tree
Photo: Macbird Floraprint
Invasive Plant
Pepper Tree
Schinus areira (Syn. Schinus molle var. areira)
 

Spreading, evergreen tree originally from South America widely planted in the early years of settlement as a shade tree. Semi-weeping in habit, it has willow-like leaves and small yellow-white flowers in spring that are followed by clusters of pea-sized pinkish-red berries. These are 'bird candy'.

 

HOW IT SPREADS

  • Seeds are highly delectable to birds and are dispersed by them. Seeds germinate freely and this tree has become a pest plant in many areas of Australia, along with the species form, S. molle.
 
 
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Alternative Plants

Cooba
Photo: NSW Coastcare
Alternative Plant Cooba
Acacia salicina
Trees and Shrubs
 

Fast–growing small tree with drooping branches that occurs naturally in the Alice Springs area. Its height will vary from 4 to 12 m depending on soil type and availability of water. It may sucker to form a copse but this is not problematic in the garden - suckers can be removed if not required. It produces pale yellow flowers after rainfall in the wild, but may be more free-flowering in a garden situation. It is frost tolerant.

Coral Gum
Photo: Macbird Floraprint
Alternative Plant Coral Gum
Eucalyptus torquata
Trees and Shrubs
 

A fast-growing, ornamental black–trunked shade tree with a mature height of between 6 and 10 m and a canopy spread of 5–8 m. It has typical gum tree blue–grey leaves and and produces pinkish–red flowers in summer. It can be frost tender when young so some protection should be provided in the first couple of years after planting. It is reasonably drought tolerant.

Ironwood
Photo: D. Greig, ANBG
Alternative Plant Ironwood
Acacia estrophiolata
Trees and Shrubs
 

A slow-growing, graceful, pendulous tree that may reach an eventual height of 16 m and a spread of 10 m. It is an ideal shade tree for the Alice Spring region. Like many Acacias, it has both juvenile and mature leaves that are distinctly different. Its young foliage is quite spiky. leaved. It produces pale yellow wattle flowers after winter rains in the wild but may be more freeflowering in garden situations. It is both frost tolerant and drought tolerant.

 
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