Brazilian Pepper
About this species.
Brazilian Pepper (Schinus terebinthifolia) is Florida's most aggressive invasive woody plant — a state-listed Category I invasive that displaces natives across thousands of acres of Southwest Florida every year. If you have it on your property, removal is the recommended action, and removal done right requires more than just cutting it down.
Identification
- Multi-trunked sprawling shrubby tree, typically 20–40 ft tall, dense thicket-forming habit.
- Pinnately compound leaves with 5–9 elliptic leaflets opposite each other on a stem.
- Distinctive WINGED stem (rachis) between leaflets — narrow flat wings of leaf tissue extending along the leaf stem. The single most diagnostic feature.
- Dense terminal clusters of bright crimson-red round berries in winter — also highly diagnostic.
- Resinous, pepper-spicy smell when leaves are crushed.
- Often confused with native sumacs; the winged stem is the key tell.
Why it's a problem
Brazilian pepper produces tens of thousands of viable seeds per mature plant per year. Seeds remain viable in soil for years. The plant outcompetes nearly every Florida native in disturbed habitats — abandoned lots, fence-lines, conservation easements, mangrove edges. Once established, it forms dense monocultures that exclude native plants and reduce wildlife habitat value to near zero.
It's specifically listed as a state-prohibited invasive in Florida. The law prohibits its planting, sale, or transport.
Removal — the right way
- Cut + immediate cambium herbicide treatment. Cutting alone results in stump resprout within months.
- Disposal at approved facilities — never chip Brazilian pepper into your normal landscape mulch (seeds survive chipping and spread the problem).
- Follow-up sweeps for new seedlings — for heavy infestations, expect 1–3 years of sweeps before the seed bank is exhausted.
- Native replanting after clearing — gumbo limbo, marlberry, simpson stopper, wild coffee, beautyberry are good substitutes.
Why not just leave it?
Some Southwest Florida properties have substantial Brazilian pepper coverage that's been there for decades. Leaving it grows the seed source for the surrounding area, including any conservation lands or neighboring natural habitats. Lee County and some other SW Florida jurisdictions periodically offer cost-share programs for invasive removal — worth asking about before any clearing.
What to know.
- Listed as a Category I invasive by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council — actively displaces native species.
- Cuttings cannot be composted or burned in residential yards. Specialized disposal required.
- Lower wind-resistance score — particularly vulnerable in hurricane-force winds. Pre-storm inspection recommended.
Frequently asked.
Can I just cut Brazilian pepper down myself?
You can cut it — but without proper stump treatment it'll resprout within months. And without proper disposal, the seeds spread. Effective removal requires the cut-and-treat approach plus approved disposal. For small infestations, that's manageable as a homeowner project; for larger areas, professional removal saves significant rework.
Will it grow back?
Yes, usually — even after proper cut-and-treat, seedlings will emerge from the seed bank in surrounding soil for 1–3 years. Plan for follow-up sweeps to keep the area clear. After 3 years of consistent follow-up, you're usually past the rebound.
Are the red berries poisonous?
Brazilian pepper is related to poison ivy (same family — Anacardiaceae). The berries are mildly toxic if ingested and can cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals. The smoke from burning Brazilian pepper is significantly more irritating than from regular wood — never burn cuttings.
Services for brazilian peppers.
The work we do on brazilian peppers most often. Each card links straight to the service detail.