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Planting under California Pepper Tree

sanjosegardener Zone 9b

last month

Hello fellow gardeners. I have a California pepper tree in the corner of my backyard. I want to plant some shrubs along the fence but I have heard mixed information about planting under pepper trees and would appreciate if you could share your experience. The distance between the fence and the tree trunk is about 6 feet and the area gets morning sun. Thank you =)

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Comments (4)

BillMN-z-2-3-4
last month
last modified: last month
Personally, I know nothing about the plant in question, but I did find an article post by one of the professionals here at houzz. (Not a secure site).

http://sageoutdoordesigns.com/plants-that-can-survive-under-california-pepper-schinus-molle-trees/
sanjosegardener Zone 9b thanked BillMN-z-2-3-4
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
last month
The allelopathic properties of Schinus molle tend to be overstated. Male plants tend to be more adept at deterring competing weed seedling species but neither gender has a significant impact on more mature plantings. As long as you are not seeding in any new arrivals, you should be fine :-) Just follow the usual recommendations for plants that will tolerate dry shade.

FWIW. most tree species will exhibit some degree of allelopathy but rarely to the extent of limiting or impeding other plantings.
sanjosegardener Zone 9b thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
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CA Kate z9
last month
We had a beautiful CA Pepper in our back yard. Nothing would grow under it. However, I think the Salvias were fine about 6 feet away, but I don't know about a shrub with larger roots. Maybe a shrub's roots would be happy growing in the opposite direction if it's a fence not a wall. .
sanjosegardener Zone 9b thanked CA Kate z9
kittymoonbeam
last month
hanging baskets in a pepper tree are beautiful. Also I saw a round seating with 3 containers for planting that goes around tree trunks.
sanjosegardener Zone 9b thanked kittymoonbeam

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