Christmas berry (Schinus terebinthifolia)

Common names in Hawai'i are Christmas berry or Brazilian pepper tree. This member the cashew family is native to Brazil is also found throughout Paraguay and Argentina. Christmas berry was introduced to Hawai'i in 1911 as an attractive ornamental shrub with it's colorful berries and small, shiny, green leaves. It has since become largely naturalized on the main Hawaiian Islands becoming largely established in drier lowland areas. This hardy tree-shrub is drought and flood resistant. The wood of the tree is light brown with pink tones and dark streaks.