How to Plant and Grow Your Pink Peppercorn Tree (Schinus molle) from Seed 🌿

Thank you for choosing Greenhouse PCA!

If you’ve landed on this page, you’ve probably just opened your packet of Pink Peppercorn Tree (Schinus molle) seeds — and we’re excited to help you grow these beautiful, fragrant trees from scratch. Native to South America, the Pink Peppercorn Tree (also known as the Peruvian Pepper Tree) produces delicate feathery foliage and clusters of rosy-pink berries with a peppery aroma and flavor.

🌱 Step 1: Prepare Your Seeds (Soak and Stratify)

Pink Peppercorn seeds are small and have a tough outer coat, which means they benefit from some pre-germination treatment to improve sprouting success.

1. Clean the seeds:
If your seeds came from dried berries, gently rub them between your fingers or in a small strainer to remove any remaining fruit pulp. Rinse thoroughly and pat dry.

2. Soak the seeds:
Place the clean seeds in warm water for 24 hours to soften the seed coat and help moisture penetrate.

3. Cold stratify (recommended):
After soaking, place the seeds in a small zip-top bag with a lightly damp paper towel or a bit of moist sand. Seal and refrigerate for 2–4 weeks.
This cold period simulates winter dormancy and greatly improves germination rates.

🌿 Step 2: Prepare Your Soil

Pink Peppercorn Trees thrive in well-draining soil — they dislike being waterlogged. A mix designed for citrus, cactus, or Mediterranean plants works beautifully.

DIY mix idea:

• 50% potting soil

• 25% perlite or pumice

• 25% coarse sand

Make sure your pots or seed trays have drainage holes at the bottom.

🌞 Step 3: Planting the Seeds

1. Fill your container with your soil mix and lightly moisten it.

2. Press each seed about 1/4 inch (6 mm) into the surface.

3. Cover gently with soil and mist lightly with water.

4. Place the pot in a warm, bright location — a heat mat or greenhouse is ideal.

🌤 Step 4: Warmth, Light & Moisture

Pink Peppercorn seeds need warmth and patience to sprout.

• Temperature: 75–85°F (24–29°C)

• Light: Bright, indirect sunlight or a grow light for 12–14 hours per day

• Moisture: Keep the soil slightly moist but never soggy — misting is best.

Germination may take anywhere from 3–8 weeks, depending on temperature and stratification.

🌳 Step 5: Transplanting Seedlings

Once seedlings are about 2–3 inches tall and have developed several sets of leaves, carefully transplant them into individual pots.

• Use the same soil mix and ensure good drainage.

• Place them in full sun (or gradually acclimate them if grown indoors).

• Water deeply but allow the soil to dry slightly between waterings.

🌺 Step 6: Long-Term Care & Fruiting

As your Pink Peppercorn Tree matures, it will become increasingly drought-tolerant and resilient. Here’s how to keep it happy:

• Sunlight: Full sun for best growth and berry production.

• Water: Deep, infrequent watering once established.

• Pruning: Light pruning keeps the canopy airy and healthy.

• Climate: Best suited for USDA Zones 9–11 — or grow in a large container and bring indoors during cold months.

Your tree may begin producing clusters of fragrant pink berries within 3–5 years, rewarding your patience with beauty and spice!

💚 Final Tips from Greenhouse PCA

• Avoid overwatering — Peppercorn Trees prefer dry, airy conditions.

• They can grow up to 30 feet tall outdoors but stay smaller in containers.

• Both male and female flowers grow on the same tree, so one plant is enough for fruit.