Schinus molle  California Pepper Tree (aka Peruvian Pepper)

Anacardiaceae

From temperate regions of South America. Design height is 30'; mature height is 40'. Fast growing evergreen tree. Medium green serrate and linear leaves, 10" long. White to yellow 1/8" flowers in panicles, from July to December. Fall to winter fruit on female plants (dioeceous), rose with green to pink immature stages, 1/8" to 1/4" drupe. Prefers full to part sun, moderate to dry. Acid, neutral, alkaline, clay, loam, sandy and rocky soils. Tolerates drought, poor soil, heat and wind. Susceptible to Armillaria root rot, but is resistant to deer, smog and dust. Propagate by seed. Little pruning needed, but some thinning would be helpful. Remove suckers whenever they appear. This tree will stump sprout if pruned severely. Also tolerates clipping and can be used as a formal hedge with a minimum height of 6'. Use as a background, for dried seed capsules, for erosion control, as a clipped hedge, an informal hedge, screen, with Spanish architecture, or as a specimen tree.