Brazilian peppertree: Schinus terebinthifolius (Sapindales: Anacardiaceae): Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States

Brazilian peppertree	USDA PLANTS Symbol: SCTE U.S. Nativity: Exotic Habit: Hardwood Trees Shrub or Subshrub
Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi

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Taxonomic Rank: Magnoliopsida: Sapindales: Anacardiaceae
Synonym(s): Christmas berry, Florida holly
Native Range: Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay ()
Brazilian peppertree is a broadleaved, evergreen shrub or small tree that invades natural and disturbed areas in Hawaii, Florida, Texas and California. Plants can grow to 30 ft. (9 m) tall. The alternate, dark green leaves are pinnately compound and slightly toothed along leaflet margins. Leaflets are opposite along a (usually) winged rachis and 1-2 in. (2.5-5.1 cm) long. Leaves smell strongly of pepper or turpentine when crushed. Trees are dioecious with clusters of small, white, 5-petaled flowers developing in the leaf axils of young stems. Trees flower year-round, but flowers are most concentrated in the fall. Fruit are small, bright red berries. Brazilian peppertree invades a variety of habitats including old fields, forests, hammocks, ditches, and wetlands. It forms dense thickets that displace native vegetation. Brazilian peppertree is native to South America and was first introduced into the United States in the 1840s as an ornamental.

Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources

Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States - USDA Forest Service
Element Stewardship Abstract - The Nature Conservancy
Fire Effects Information System - USDA Forest Service
Identification and Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas - University of Florida
Invasive Species Management Plans for Florida - University of Florida - Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants

Selected Images from Invasive.org

View All Images at Invasive.org

Seedling(s); Forest & Kim Starr, U.S. Geological Survey, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Foliage; Amy Ferriter, State of Idaho, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Flower(s); Amy Ferriter, State of Idaho, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Fruit(s); Dan Clark, USDI National Park Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Fruit(s); Amy Ferriter, State of Idaho, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Fruit(s); fruit Forest & Kim Starr, U.S. Geological Survey, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Foliage; with fruit Dan Clark, USDI National Park Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Fruit(s); Dan Clark, USDI National Park Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Plant(s); habit Forest & Kim Starr, U.S. Geological Survey, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Plant(s); habit Forest & Kim Starr, U.S. Geological Survey, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Infestation; Ann Murray, University of Florida, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Plant(s); James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Plant(s); James H. Miller, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Infestation; Randy Westbrooks, U.S. Geological Survey, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Management; Americorps removing debris Forest & Kim Starr, U.S. Geological Survey, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Management; debris after Americorps project Forest & Kim Starr, U.S. Geological Survey, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Management; trimmed up after Americorps project Forest & Kim Starr, U.S. Geological Survey, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Control; removal along bike trail Dan Clark, USDI National Park Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Seed(s); Steve Hurst, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage

EDDMapS Distribution:
This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts and records obtained from USDA Plants Database. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org

State(s) Where Reported invasive.
Based on state level agency and organization lists of invasive plants from WeedUS database.

Native Alternatives:
Baccharis halimifolia (eastern baccharis) Erythrina herbacea (redcardinal) Heteromeles arbutifolia (toyon) Psychotria nervosa (Seminole balsamo) Ptelea trifoliata (common hoptree) Rhus copallinum (winged sumac) Rhus glabra (smooth sumac) Simarouba glauca (paradisetree) Umbellularia californica (California laurel) Zanthoxylum fagara (lime pricklyash)	More Information on Native Plants at: www.beplantwise.org PlantWise is a partnership between the National Park Service, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, The Garden Club of America and The National Invasive Species Council to prevent harmful invasive plants from invading natural areas.

U.S. National Parks where reported invasive:

Big Cypress National Preserve (Florida)
Everglades National Park (Florida)
Haleakala National Park (Hawaii)

Invasive Listing Sources:

Archbold Biological Station

California Invasive Plant Council

Faith Campbell, 1998. Plants that Hog the Garden: Invasive Plants in the United States. Fine Gardening Online

Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council

Jil M. Swearingen, Survey of invasive plants occurring on National Park Service lands, 2000-2007

John Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Survey of TNC Preserves, 1995.

National Wildlife Refuge Association, Silent Invasion: A Call to Action from the National Wildlife Refuge Association, 2002. Washington DC. 17 pp.

Reichard, Sarah. 1994. Assessing the potential of invasiveness in woody plants introduced in North America. University of Washington Ph.D. dissertation.

University of Hawaii, Botany Department, Hawaiian Alien Plant Studies, 1998