Tasmannia lanceolata

Tasmannia lanceolata

Common name:

Mountain Pepper

Pepper Tree

Tasmanian Pepperberry

Pronunciation:

tas-MAN-ee-uh lan-see-oh-LAY-tuh

Family:

Winteraceae

Genus:

Synonyms:

Drimys lanceolata

Type:

Broadleaf

Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon:

Broadleaf, evergreen shrub or tree, to 6-30 ft (2-10 m) tall, in the landscape a shrub, 8-12 ft (2.5-3.5 m) and 4-8 ft wide (1.2-2.5 m). Compact rounded growth habit. Stems are bright red to purple-red in color. Leaf arrangement variable, alternate then more sub-opposite or opposite towards the ends of branches. The leaves are aromatic, simple, 4-12 cm long and 0.7-2.0 cm wide, lanceoate to narrow-elliptic, dark green with a pale underside. Male and female flowers are on separate plants, both in small terminal custers. Male flowers are pale brown to flesh colored and have 20-25 stamens. The small female flowers have 3-8 petals that are yellow-cream or white; they appear in late winter, spring or early summer (depending on the climate) and are followed by red and finally black, globose, berries 5–8 mm wide.

Sun to part shade, prefers moist, well-drained soil, can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

Hardy to USDA Zone 7 Native to southeastern Australia, from Tasmania northwards through Victoria and into New South Wales.

Understorey plants of open forests or temperate rainforests.
Mountain Pepper: A “bushfood” native pepper sold in Australia, it is produced from the dried leaves and berries of this plant. The ‘pepper’ taste is derived from the compound polygodial, a C₁₅ sesquiterpene.

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Landscape Plants