Pepper Busting Program

Brazilian Pepper Busting

How did they get here?
Brazilian pepper (schinus terebinthifolius) trees were brought to our state in the 1890’s by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as an ornamental shrubs and were propagated and distributed widely. People loved them and called them “Florida Holly”.

Why are they so BAD?
Brazilian peppers are on the Florida’s prohibited plant list. It is illegal to cultivate, sell, or transport them. They cut down on varieties and total numbers of wildlife by destroying their usual food and shelter like the mangroves and their shallow roots allow shoreline erosion.

Brazilian Pepper trees are in the same family as Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, & Poison Sumac. The entire plant is toxic. Toxins are spread by physical contact. The pollen also caries the toxin. When the plant is burned, the smoke, containing the toxin, can affect people internally. Clothes that came into contact with the plant may retain toxicity until washed.

We need your help!

What you may want to bring / wear and what is provided.
Bring/ Wear: Your Self, Hat, Pants, Long Sleeved Shirt, Chainsaw (if you have one), Loppers (if you have one)

Provided
Pepper Trees, Herbicide & applicator, Chipper (if used), Gloves, Eye protection, Dust mask, Water, Vests (if necessary), First Aid kits

Pepper Busting Manual

Disclaimer

The Keep Brevard Beautiful Pepper Busting Manual makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, concerning the accuracy or suitability under any particular circumstances or for any particular individual, of the information contained in this manual. There is no warranty, either express or implied, as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of any content contained in this manual. In no event shall Keep Brevard Beautiful be responsible to person or entity for damages of any nature whatsoever arising from the use of this manual. Reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that this information available to be downloaded from the Keep Brevard Beautiful, Inc. website, is free of any software virus, but the author can not guarantee that the material is free from any or all software viruses and is not responsible for any loss or damage howsoever caused.

The use of this manual is intended to be a guide for identification and removal of Brazilian Pepper Tree. The process of removal of Pepper Tree can be dangerous and hazardous, those who wish to engage in this activity do so at their own risk. Keep Brevard Beautiful, Inc. encourages those individuals who wish to remove Brazilian Pepper Trees to do so under the strict supervision of an experienced person.

All rights reserved. No part of this manual may be reproduced, in any form or by any means, without written permission of Keep Brevard Beautiful, Inc.  ©2005 Keep Brevard Beautiful, Inc.
For more information call Keep Brevard Beautiful at (321) 631-0501.