Allspice, Pimenta dioica, also known as Myrtle pepper, Pimenta or Jamaica pepper, is a small scrubby, 7-12 meters in height, evergreen fruit bearing tree (allspice berries) of the tropics and subtropics. It is native to the rain-forests of South and Central America where it grows wild.


Allspice is a member of the Myrtaceae family the genus Pimenta. Trees are either male or female and therefore male and female plants are essential to be kept in proximity in order to allow for fruits to develop. Pimenta dioica can be grown outdoors in a normal garden if you live in an area that does not go below freezing.

Leaves of the allspice tree are ovate, shiny, dark green, aromatic, up to 15 cm long. The leaves are seldom used. However, you can attain the same clove-like, spicy flavor with the leaves as the berries. Flowers are small white, appearing in mid summer succeeded by spherical shaped green berries, 4 to 8 mm in diameter, that turn purple when mature. Allspice berries contain two seeds.

Ground allspice is not a concoction of spices. Rather, it is the dried out fruit of the Pimenta dioica plant. The fruit is picked when has gained full size but still green and immature, since berries lose their flavor and aroma when fully ripe on the tree and, traditionally are dried in the sun. When dry, the fruits are brown and resemble large brown peppercorns.

Propagation is by seeds. Pimenta dioica favors a full sun position and a damp well-drained soil. Allspice trees begin to produce fruit after about five years, and come to full-bearing after twenty years. While today only a few real wild allspice trees are remaining in some regions of the tropics allspice has escaped from areas of cultivation.

Allspice, pimenta dioica

Click On Sitemap for the Complete List of Articles

Incoming search terms:

  • is allspice a nut
  • allspice trees for sale
  • is allspice a nut?
  • allspice plant for sale
  • are there nuts in allspice
  • allspice for sale
  • jamaica pepper tree for sale
  • pimenta officinalis plant for sale
  • pimenta plant for sale
  • tree in jamaica pepper shaped fruit