Pepperberry - Growing Pepperberry
Image from Melbourne Bushfood
Pepperberry is a shrub native to the temperate rainforests of South Eastern Australia. The plant produces red berries over autumn but they darken as the ripen. Pepperberry plant has many uses and was used traditionally as a spice and for medicinal purposes. To be able to harvest berries you’ll need a male and female plant.
The berries are sweet, fruity and have a very strong peppery taste, when dried they are used a spice and added to beef stews and salads. The berries were also used traditionally as medicine to cure skin diseases.
Image from Melbourne Bushfood
Good for:
- Beginners
- Frost
- Drought
Water
Moderate
Sunlight
Part Shade
Size
Up to 8m high and 5m wide
Planting
Planting
For best results, plant in a loamy, well-drained soil, and place your plant in part-shade. This dense, prickly bush typically grows up to 8m tall and 5m wide. It's the perfect little fruiter for a patio or balcony garden.
Pruning can be done to control growth, the plant should be sheltered from strong winds. Ensure the soil used is fertile and rich in nutrients.
Frost tolerance
Peppeberry is supposed to be a frost tolerant plant and can survive frost of up to -5 degrees, but if you live a cold climate we recommend to protect it during Winter and don’t over water it.
Sunlight
This lovely species does exemplary well in full sun and fairly well in part shade.
Maintenance
Watering & Drought Tolerance
Water moderately at tender age. Pepperberry is drought tolerant at maturity age. Ensure the soil is completely dry before watering.
Fertilizing
Fertilizing should be done before blooming season. If you grow in pots, use Osmocote premium potting mix and low Phosphorus Native Fertiliser.
Harvesting
The berries are harvested when ripe (between march and May) Handpicking can be used as a way of harvesting
Other guides: