How to grow Mountain Pepper in Australia
A native shrub for part shade to full sun in moist, well-drained, slightly acidic soil rich in organic matter. Keep the soil consistently moist, as it dislikes drying out, and mulch well to protect the roots.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Sun: Part shade
- Water: 6 litres a week, watered every 4 days
- Spacing: 200 cm
- Time to harvest: 730 days (about 2 years)
- Time to germinate: 30 days
- Soil pH: 5 to 6.5
- Frost tolerance: Frost hardy
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | March to September | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | March to September | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | March to September | |
| Melbourne & Victoria | March to September | Native Australian herb; frost-hardy. Melbourne suits. Extend window. |
| Adelaide & SA | April to August | Plant Apr to Aug. A cool climate shrub, so it suits the Adelaide Hills; on the plains grow it in a pot in shade, in lime free mix, and keep it moist through summer. |
| Perth & WA | April to August | Plant Apr to Aug. Summer sun burns the leaves in Perth, so grow it in a pot or a shaded bed in lime free soil, mulch before summer and keep it moist. |
| Tasmania | March to May, September to November | Native to Tasmania. Plant Sep to Nov or Mar to May. Thrives in cool moist hill country. Grow the local pepper at home. |
| Canberra & ACT | March to September | Mountain Pepper is cold-hardy Australian native; plant spring-autumn; benefits from winter chill; slow-growing; long-lived. |
| North Queensland | Not suited | Not viable. Tasmanian cool climate rainforest shrub; fails in lowland tropical heat. |
| Darwin & Top End | Not suited | Not viable. Tasmanian cool temperate rainforest native. Cannot survive Top End heat. |
Companion planting
Good companions
- Native plants
- Finger lime
Harvest and storage
Harvest tip
Pick the dark berries when fully ripe and soft, and the peppery leaves any time. Strip berries or snip leafy sprigs, and dry them to concentrate the heat.
Storage
Dry berries and store in a sealed jar for 12+ months. Fresh leaves fridge 1 week.