Schinus

On what Dave P says, it might even be worth me trying a plant or two outside, if I can find a hot spot for it.

 

No enhancing, my dearest, a perfect sky!

Pete, I got some fresh red ones ... off the ground as we couldn't reach the ones in the trees! I also got some dried ones of the trees which we could reach. So you'll have a variety to try. I'll post them tomorrow.

 

Thanks

 

Glad you're giving it a go Pete. They germinate easily if lightly covered and kept at around 20C. Expect growth up to 1m. in the first year - not exactly in the Eucalyptus league, but pretty fast nontheless. I'll be very interested to hear how they cope in Kent. It would be great to see it planted in the south provided it can grow. The problems associated with it in warmer climates are unlikely to arise here.

 

That was a leading question, DaveP ... what problems associated in the warmer climates? Self seeding or what? If so, I didn't see any around this line of trees.

 

Ah well, in the US (or at least the warmer states) it seems to be dammed for being a 'messy' tree, that self-seeds far too easily. Apparently it sheds far too many leaves as well, which can block up drains and gutters! Most trees can do that in this country so we would probably not notice the difference. It is reputedly quite a greedy tree, quickly impoverishing the soil and coupled with its copious leaf litter and dense canopy, little or nothing can grow beneath. Well I can think of quite a few trees that can do much the same here. It is also classed as a weed tree in western states and as a result is often despised.

I've never heard of it being a problem in S. Europe and cannot imagine that it would be planted as a street tree if it was that problematic. Maybe we all have a more pragmatic attitude, or maybe a few (or more) vociferous Californians just don't want to have trees that mess up their yards or driveways.

 

I lived in Alabama for 14 years and don't remember it there or surrounding States (ie, Tennessee bordering on the north, Mississippi bordering on the west and Georgia on the right). I do think it's a problem in Florida however, the state bordering Alabama on the south.

 

The Californians think it is a problem too and I understand it is starting to become quite widespread in Australia, although the main concern there is with S. terebinthifolius. Whatever, if it was going to become a problem in S. Europe, it would have done that many years ago.

 

my book, (which I havn't thrown away just yet), gives its common name as California pepper tree.
It then goes on to say the tree is a native of Peru, not well up on the climate of Peru, but maybe it like hot dry climates best.
Am I right in thinking Alabama is not that dry, pretty humid in fact?

 

Your book sounds similar to my Aussie book, pete, don't throw it away yet. We can compare notes from time to time.

You are 100% correct .. even in North Alabama where I lived, borderline Tennessee, we were so humid, it was unbearable.

I would bathe in the morning, sometimes go home at lunchtime and shower and then again when I got home from work. A very, very, very uncomfortable place to live in the heat, which you get for six months of the year nearly 100 degrees with almost as much humidity (hence the tornados, storms, etc) ... then severe frost and snow in the winter. Two seasons only!

Kedi-Gato will vouche that when she went back from Germany to visit us, she got off the plane and her greeting to me was something like "I knew there was something I hated about here ... the humidity".

Not a nice place for a Lady to be ... hence in hot, dry Portugal ... :rolleyes:

 

The peppers are winging their way to you as I type, pete. Boa sorte (good luck) and let me know your progress.