Broad-leaf pepper tree (Schinus terebinthifolius)

Also known as: Brazilian pepper tree

Broad-leaf pepper tree is a shrub or tree with bright red berries. It can cause allergic reactions in people and animals.

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How does this weed affect you?

Broad-leaf pepper tree is a fast growing tree.

In agricultural environments broad-leaf pepper tree:

• shades out pasture
• makes livestock movement and mustering difficult
• blocks access to water
• hosts horticultural diseases that affect mangoes and citrus trees.

In natural environments broad-leaf pepper tree:

• spreads quickly in disturbed bushland
• outcompetes native plants including grasses, ground covers and shrubs
• dominates the understorey reducing food and shelter for native animals.

Human health

The sap of the tree contains urushiols, which are toxic. It is a relative of the rhus tree (Toxicodendron succedaneum) and poison ivy (Rhus toxicodendron). Being near the tree when its flowering or touching the sap can cause:

• severe itching
• lesions
• rashes
• a red and swollen face
• oozing sores
• welts
• breathing difficulties.

The leaves and fruit contain other unidentified toxins that can cause gastroenteritis in humans.

What to do if a person is poisoned:

• If the patient is unconscious, unresponsive or having difficulty breathing dial 000 or get to the emergency section of a hospital immediately.
• If the patient is conscious and responsive call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 or your doctor.
• If going to a hospital take a piece of the plant for identification.

Livestock poisoning

The sap can cause dermatitis in horses, cattle and dogs. Horses resting beneath the trees can develop dermatitis and swollen faces. The leaves and fruit contain other unidentified toxins that can cause gastroenteritis in cattle and horses, but livestock rarely eat the plant. In Florida in the USA, many birds have died from eating the fruit.

What does it look like?

Broad-leaf pepper tree is a broad-topped, fast growing, multi-stemmed shrub or small tree. It usually grows 1–6 m tall but can be up to 15 m tall. Plants are either male or female. Only the female plants produce berries. Plants can live for up to 35 years.

Leaves:

Leaves are made up of 3–9 leaflets which are:

• dark green
• oval shaped with a very prominent midrib
• opposite, with a single (slightly larger) leaflet at the tip
• often with a slightly winged stem

The leaves have a peppery smell when crushed.

Flowers are:

• white surrounded by greenish-yellow sepals
• small with petals about 2 mm long
• mostly present in autumn but can grow year-round.

Fruit are:

• on female trees
• 4–5 mm wide
• green when immature
• bright-red when mature with one kidney shaped seed
• peppery smelling.
• present over winter.

Similar looking species

Broad-leaf pepper tree looks similar to Pepper tree (Schinus molle var. areira), though it has penulous branches and much narrower leaflets (2-10 mm wide). 

Where is it found?

Broad-leaf pepper tree grows across north eastern NSW. There are isolated plants in northern NSW in the North Coast and Mid-North Coast Regions. It is spreading into National Parks and Nature Reserves in the Tweed Shire. 

It is native to South America and was brought to Australia as an ornamental plant. Broad-leaf pepper tree is also an invasive weed in Queensland and in other countries including the USA, Bahamas and South Africa.

What type of environment does it grow in?

Broad-leaf pepper tree grows in a range of habitats, from mangrove forests to coastal sand dunes. It is a serious threat to coastal regions, riparian zones and wetlands and it forms thickets around waterholes.

It is shade tolerant. It spreads quickly on waterlogged and poorly drained soils but will also grow on drier soils in high rainfall areas.

Maps and records

• Recorded presence of Broad-leaf pepper tree during property inspections (Map: Biosecurity Information System - Weeds, 2017-2023)
  These records are made by authorised officers during property inspections under the Biosecurity Act 2015. Officers record the presence of priority weeds in their council area and provide this to the NSW Department of Primary Industries. Records reflect the presence of the weed on the date of inspection.
  
  

How does it spread?

The tree was introduced to Australia as an ornamental plant and was previously sold in nurseries. Most infestations found can be traced back to mature cultivated trees.

By seed

Birds and mammals eat the bright red berries and spread the seed. Seeds that have been defecated by birds are much more viable than seeds in intact fruit. 

Fruit can float and seeds are spread by both saltwater and fresh water. Seeds are still viable after fruit have floated in salty water for a week.

Seeds are usually viable for up to 9 months.  

By plant parts

Broad-leaf pepper tree can produce suckers from roots. 

References

Anderson, T., Diatloff, G. and Panetta, D. (1998). Broadleaved pepper tree Schinus Terebinthifolius Control in grazing situations. Proceedings of the 6th QLD Weeds Symposium pp. 178-179.

Anderson, T. and Willshere L. (1998). Broadleaved pepper tree and its control. QLD Department of Natural Resource report, Brisbane.

Csurhes, S. and Edwards, R. (1998). Potential Environmental Weeds Program. Environment Australia, Canberra.

Donnelly, M. J., & Walters, L. J. (2008). Water and boating activity as dispersal vectors for Schinus terebinthifolius (Brazilian pepper) seeds in freshwater and estuarine habitats. Estuaries and coasts, 31(5), 960.

Gioeli, P. and Langeland, K. (1997). Brazilian pepper-tree control, University of Florida, Cooperative extension Service. Fact sheet SS-AGR-17.

McKenzie, R. (2012). Australia's poisonous plants, fungi and cyanobacteria: a guide to species of medical and veterinary importance. CSIRO.

Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER). Retrieved from:  http://www.hear.org/pier/scinames.htm

Panetta, F. D., & McKee, J. (1997). Recruitment of the invasive ornamental, Schinus terebinthifolius, is dependent upon frugivores. Australian Journal of Ecology, 22(4), 432-438.

More information

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Control

Successful weed control relies on follow up after the initial efforts. This means looking for and killing regrowth or new seedlings. Using a combination of control methods is usually more successful.

 To manage broad-leaf pepper tree:

• control plants before they fruit in winter to stop seed set
• control seedlings before they are three years old and start producing fruit.

Physical removal

Hand pull or dig out isolated seedlings. Cut down large trees and remove the stump. Wear personnel protective clothing and equipment and avoid contact with the sap.

Chemical control

Spraying

When: A foliar spray during winter, when the plant is at early fruiting stage is most effective.

Avoid spray contact with desirable species.

Basal barking

Do not apply the herbicide mix to wet stems.

This method is suitable for trees with a base diameter of up to 5 cm. Spray or paint the recommended mixture around the base of each stem from ground level to
a height of at least 30 cm from the ground. Wet the bark to the point of runoff.

Cut stump method

Cut trunks or stems and apply herbicide to the stump within 15 seconds of cutting.

Stem injection

Drill, saw or cut into the sapwood. Fill  the cuts or holes with herbicide within 15 seconds.

Herbicide options

See Using herbicides for more information.

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Glyphosate 360 g/L (Various products)
Rate: 1 part glyphosate to 50 parts water
Comments: Spray seedlings and coppice shoots.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Glyphosate 360 g/L (Various products)
Rate: 1 part glyphosate to 1.5 parts water
Comments: Cut stump/scrape stem application for saplings. Stem injection application large trees and shrubs.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 9 (previously group M), Inhibition of 5-enolpyruvyl shikimate-3 phosphate synthase (EPSP inhibition)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Fluroxypyr 333 g/L (Starane™ Advanced)
Rate: 2.1 L per 100 L of diesel
Comments: Basal bark application.
Withholding period: Do not graze failed crops and treated pastures or cut for stock food for 7 days after application. See label for more information.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Fluroxypyr 333 g/L (Starane™ Advanced)
Rate: 300 mL per 100 L water
Comments: Foliar spray.
Withholding period: Do not graze failed crops and treated pastures or cut for stock food for 7 days after application. See label for more information.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Picloram 44.7 g/L + Aminopyralid 4.47 g/L (Vigilant II ®)
Rate: Undiluted
Comments: Cut stump application: Apply a 3–5 mm layer of gel for stems less than 20 mm. Apply 5 mm layer on stems above 20 mm. Stem inject application for trees: Make a series of cuts 15-20 mm deep around the trunk using an axe or saw. Space cuts evenly with no more than a 20-40 mm gap between them. Apply a 5 mm layer of gel over the lower surface of the cut.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: 4 (previously group I), Disruptors of plant cell growth (Auxin mimics)
Resistance risk: Moderate

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Biosecurity duty

The content provided here is for information purposes only and is taken from the Biosecurity Act 2015 and its subordinate legislation, and the Regional Strategic Weed Management Plans (published by each Local Land Services region in NSW). It describes the state and regional priorities for weeds in New South Wales, Australia.

Area	Duty
All of NSW	General Biosecurity Duty All pest plants are regulated with a general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk they may pose. Any person who deals with any plant, who knows (or ought to know) of any biosecurity risk, has a duty to ensure the risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised, so far as is reasonably practicable.
Hunter	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Eradication) Notify local control authority if found. Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. A person should not deal with the plant, where dealings include but are not limited to buying, selling, growing, moving, carrying or releasing the plant.
North Coast Exclusion (eradication) zone: Bellingen Shire LGA, Clarence Valley LGA, Lord Howe Island, Nambucca Valley LGA, Port Macquarie-Hastings LGA. Core infestation (containment) zone: Ballina Shire LGA, Byron Shire LGA, Coffs Harbour City LGA, Kempsey Shire LGA, Kyogle Shire LGA, Lismore City LGA, Richmond Valley LGA, Tweed Shire LGA.	Regional Recommended Measure* (for Regional Priority - Containment) Whole of region: Land managers should mitigate the risk of the plant being introduced to their land. A person should not buy, sell, move, carry or release the plant into the environment. Exclusion zone: Notify local control authority if found. Land managers should eradicate the plant from the land and keep the land free of the plant. Core infestation: Land managers should mitigate spread of the plant from their land. Land managers should reduce the impact of the plant on assets of high economic, environmental and/or social value.
	*To see the Regional Strategic Weeds Management Plans containing demonstrated outcomes that fulfil the general biosecurity duty for this weed click here

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Reviewed 2023