Schinus

The genus Schinus, commonly known as the pepper tree, comprises ornamental trees native to dry South America. These trees belong to the cashew family, Anacardiaceae. Their fruits, often called "pink peppercorns," are sometimes used in beverages and medicines due to their hot taste and aroma, though they are not related to true black pepper.12

Pepper trees are known for their longevity and rapid growth, reaching up to 15 meters (50 feet) in height. They possess a wide canopy and weeping young branches. Their compound leaves contain volatile oils that release a peppery fragrance when broken. The small white flowers appear in clusters, and the pink fruits contain a single seed. Schinus trees can be invasive in some regions and serve as hosts for scale insects that harm orange trees.1