brazilian pepper tree

14 years ago

My Brazilian Pepper's leaves are turning yellow and dropping. The tree was planted two years ago and has grown to aprox. 10 feet. The yellowing leaves are mainly inside the center of the tree, although there's new growth on the ends of all the branches. Is this unusual? Am I giving it too much or not enough water? A neighbor across the street has one and it's thriving. My tree is on a drip, but does not get a deep watering. It's a beautiful tree and I sure don't want to lose it. Thanks in advance.

Featured Answer

aztreelvr

14 years ago

The Brazilian pepper (Schinus teribinthifolius) is a nice evergreen tree and is dioecious, meaning there are separate male and female trees. Small white flowers appear on the female tree in the spring producing the small berries.

Although it is not a true pepper, (they are members of the Anacardiaceae family) their dried berries are often sold as pink peppercorns. Volatile terpenes are present in the berries, and can irritate the mucous membranes of sensitive people, so moderation is advised in using the berries as a condiment. The seeds can be used as a spice if used in moderation, adding a pepper-like taste to food, but they are toxic in large amounts. The Brazilian Pepper has aromatic sap that can cause skin reactions (similar to poison-ivy burns) in some sensitive people.

As with all trees, make sure you are watering to a depth of three feet. If you haven't done so already move the emitters out to the drip line (edge of the branches) where most of the feeder roots are.

During the warm months this tree should be deep watered once every 7 - 10 days. You may want to check your drip schedule as you could be overwatering. Soggy soils can cause yellowing leaves.

Here is a link that might be useful: Landscape Watering Guidelines

Comments (9)

greenlust
14 years ago
I have brazilian pepper tree. During hot summer its leaves turn brown drop off. I think it needs to be deep watered, along the perimeter thats where its roots are spreading, ie away from the trunk. I deep water it once in few weeks. If you dont deep water the 100 degree temps will evaporate the water and much of it isnt reaching the roots.
The tree is poisonous, some folks get allergic reaction when brushed against branches.
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Pam Honeycutt
14 years ago
You might try putting a pipe in about 3 ft, one that you can cap to mow. Try watering through the pipe, you might have to let the hose run in there very slow so it has time to soak in. I was told this was a good way to deep water trees.

Gemfire
evimush
14 years ago
my posts disappear and I'm redirected over and over again to log in. So here is a test before I write my experience AGAIN on my 3 Brazilian Pepper Trees
evimush
14 years ago
Of the 3 Brzilian Pepper trees I have, one is doing fine in the shrub zone in the front yard getting a drip everyday. The other two are terrible on the east side of house in the tree zone where they get deep watered weekly as of now. They don't like weekly deep watering and respond to more water, but they don't like a lot of water either. My neighbors had 2 die.

It's ironic considering in the FL, CA, HI forums where I first found info, that the tree is a pest, invasive and hard to irradicate. It must like more humid, less hot weather, then goes crazy. Only in Morocco did someone write that as a street tree, it's really useful there.

I'm guessing here in AZ it likes a more sheltered place with surrounding shade and watered like a tropical plant - daily on a drip and hit by the pop ups
greenlust
14 years ago
My brazilian pepper tree is in the lawn, its doing well with the daily dose of lawn water. last week i gave it a good soaking thinking it will do better with more water, but it dropped lot of leaves. The tree is hard to trim and shape, it has weak branches and keep going downwards.
Hernan_fourwaysvet_com
12 years ago
We removed lots of Brazilian pepper trees while clearing a plot , as it is regarded allien , we want to shred the branches , leaves etc . And use it as mulging . Will it be toxic for the soil and therefore the plants ??
Regards Hernan
tgolf4me_cox_net
12 years ago
I have two B. Pepper trees, during our hot summer leaves were falling all you had to do is shake the tree and down came the leaves. Now that it is cooler the leaves are small in size not showing much growth
Mitzi Spallas
10 months ago
My Brazilian Pepper tree was not planted by me but it just showed up 20 years ago. It’s now GIGANTIC and has weeping branches over my house, specifically my deck. The leaves drop ENDLESSLY. And SO SO MANY!! Is this normal? I don’t remember this happening this much until a couple of years ago.