The pepper tree It is a plant that is widely used to bring some green to towns and cities. Above all, it is found in parks and in the outdoor areas of sports facilities, since although it can be pruned, the truth is that it needs a lot of space to be able to have a good development.
If you want to know more about him, then I’ll tell you what are its characteristics and care So that, in this way, if you want to have one you can enjoy it to the fullest.
Origin and characteristics
Our protagonist is an evergreen tree native to southern Brazil, Uruguay and Argentine Mesopotamia whose scientific name is Schinus molle. It is popularly known as the pepper tree, American pepper, false pepper, false pepper, aguaribay, pirul or molle. It reaches a height of between 6 to 25 meterswith a trunk of about 40cm in diameter at its base. The crown is composed of hanging branches from which 9-28cm long odd or paripinnate leaves sprout. The leaflets are opposite to alternate, lanceolate, 1,3-5,1cm long by 0,2-0,5cm wide.
The flowers are grouped in terminal and axillary inflorescences, which are up to 25cm long. The fruit is globose, 5-7mm in diameter, red to pink when ripe.
What are their cares?
The care that the pepper tree needs are the following:
- Location: outside, in full sun.
- Earth:
- Garden: it can grow in all types of soils, even poor ones.
- Pot: universal growing substrate. It is not a plant that can be grown in a pot for a long time.
- Irrigation: 2-3 times a week in summer, and every 5-6 days the rest of the year.
- Subscriber: it is highly advisable to add some organic fertilizer once a month, such as guano or compost for example.
- Multiplication: by seeds in spring. Direct sowing in seedbed.
- Rusticity: withstands cold and frosts down to -7ºC.
What uses does it have?
Apart from being used as an ornamental plant, it has other uses, which are:
- Medicinal:
- Bark: in decoction it is used as a tonic, antispasmodic and healing.
- Resin: relieves cavities.
- Leaves: whether they are boiled or cooked, they serve as an analgesic, healing and anti-inflammatory for external use; if they are dry in the sun, they are used as a poultice to relieve rheumatism and sciatica.
- Other uses:
- Seeds: rubbing them on the skin generates a substance that keeps mosquitoes away.
- Leaves and bark: an essential oil is extracted that is used in toothpastes, perfumes and soaps.
What did you think of the pepper tree?
