Brazilian Pepper-tree

Imported from South America in the 1840s, Brazilian pepper-tree quickly spread into natural areas, taking over native tree hammocks, pine flatlands and mangrove forest communities. Once called "Florida holly" for its bright red berries, branches were often used as Christmas decorations in Florida. It's against the law to sell or purposefully plant Brazilian pepper-trees. If you have one in your landscape and want to remove it, be careful: its leaves and sap can irritate the skin. Cut down the plant and spray the stump with herbicide.

UF/IFAS Sites

• Beautiful, Deadly Tree Terrorizes Florida Natives
• Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants: Brazilian Pepper-tree
• Featured Creatures: Brazilian Peppertree Seed Chalcid, Megastigmus transvaalensis
• Invasive Plants: What You Can Do
• Success Stories: Brazilian Pepper-tree Control
• TAME: Brazilian Pepper Tree Project

UF/IFAS Publications

• Brazilian Pepper-tree Control
• Brazilian Pepper-tree, Schinus terebinthifolius
• Brazilian Peppertree Seed Wasp, Megastigmus transvaalensis
• Classical Biological Control of Brazilian Peppertree in Florida
• Control de Brazilian Pepper-tree

Other Sites

• Brazilian Peppertree--Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States
• GTM Research Reserve and Local Partners Work to Eradicate Brazilian Pepper Threat--Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection
• PLANTS Profile: Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi, Brazilian peppertree--USDA National Resources Conservation Service
• Schinus terebinthifolius--Floridata.com
• Schinus terebinthifolius--Global Invasive Species Database
• Schinus terebinthifolius--Texas Invasives.org