The Rhus integrifolia is a native tree that grows quite vertical and makes a screen to about 20 feet high. It is evergreen, not nearly as messy as the pepper trees. It responds well to pruning, does not require summer water, and the roots will not surface and raise walkways. You should be able to find it at native plant nurseries. Al

That would be correct- the pepper tree would be the only thing providing privacy should the oleander die away. The pepper tree is on my side of the fence line. I have no problem with the bare spots left from removing the pepper tree. The neighbor's property on the other side of the hedge is just a storage/ trashcan area. They have a wooden fence separating their backyard from the storage/ trashcan area. I can always fill in the fence with a fast growing hedge. I just want the pepper tree out. As tall as those pepper trees are, I'm guessing the root system might go on for yards. We already are dealing with an eroding hillside and ground squirrels, I'd hate to have to disturb the soil even more by digging up the roots to all those 20 foot tall pepper trees. This post was edited by gardenweb88 on Mon, May 6, 13 at 2:31

I assumed so, the ones that I had seen before just seemed a bit more tapered or wasn't as pimpled I guess? Maybe I just have some ugly pods hah!

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