Drimys Aromatica - Mountain Pepper
Other Names: Drimys Aromatica, Tasmannia lanceolata, Drimys lanceolata
Overview
Drimys aromatica, commonly known as Mountain Pepper or Tasmanian Pepper, is an exceptional evergreen shrub that brings both ornamental beauty and culinary interest to the garden. This Australian native offers glossy aromatic foliage, delicate white flowers, and distinctive peppery berries, making it a unique addition for gardeners seeking something special and different.
Key Features
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Foliage: Glossy, lance-shaped evergreen leaves with strong aromatic fragrance
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Flowers: Clusters of small, fragrant white flowers in spring
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Berries: Dark purple-black berries with intense peppery flavour (on female plants)
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Size: Compact shrub reaching 2-3 metres tall and 1.5-2 metres wide
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Hardiness: Hardy in most UK regions (RHS H4)
Garden Performance
Seasonal Interest
Spring: Fresh new growth and clusters of sweetly fragrant white flowers
Summer: Dense, glossy green canopy provides excellent structure
Autumn: Female plants produce distinctive dark berries
Winter: Evergreen foliage maintains garden interest through the coldest months
Growing Conditions
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Aspect: Partial shade to dappled sunlight (avoid harsh afternoon sun)
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Soil: Moist, well-drained, humus-rich acidic soil
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pH: Prefers acidic conditions (pH 5.5-6.5)
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Moisture: Consistent moisture required, dislikes drought
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Exposure: Sheltered position, protection from cold winds essential
Planting and Care
Planting
Best planted in spring after frost risk has passed. Choose a sheltered spot with morning sun and afternoon shade. Improve heavy soils with organic matter and ensure excellent drainage whilst maintaining moisture retention. Plant at the same depth as the pot and water thoroughly.
Maintenance
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Watering: Regular watering essential, especially during dry periods
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Feeding: Annual application of ericaceous fertiliser in spring
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Pruning: Light pruning after flowering if required to maintain shape
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Mulching: Deep organic mulch helps retain moisture and suppress weeds
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Winter Protection: May benefit from fleece protection in very cold regions
Culinary Uses
The berries and leaves of Drimys aromatica have been used as a spice for centuries. The berries provide an intense peppery heat with fruity undertones, whilst the leaves can be dried and used as a seasoning. Both male and female plants are needed for berry production, with females producing the edible fruit.
Design Uses
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Woodland Gardens: Excellent understory plant for naturalistic settings
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Shrub Borders: Provides evergreen structure and unusual interest
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Specimen Planting: Makes an intriguing conversation piece
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Courtyard Gardens: Perfect scale for smaller, sheltered spaces
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Herb Gardens: Combines ornamental value with culinary potential
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Wildlife Gardens: Flowers attract beneficial insects
Companion Planting
Thrives alongside other acid-loving plants such as Rhododendrons, Camellias, and Pieris. Pairs well with ferns, Hostas, and other shade-tolerant perennials. The glossy foliage provides excellent contrast to fine-textured plants like Astilbe or delicate woodland flowers such as Trillium.
Practical Information
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Plant Type: Evergreen shrub
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Mature Size: 2-3m height × 1.5-2m spread
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Growth Rate: Slow to moderate
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Lifespan: Long-lived with proper care
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Gender: Dioecious (separate male and female plants)
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Maintenance Level: Moderate
Special Considerations
Drimys aromatica requires specific conditions to thrive in the UK climate. It needs consistent moisture without waterlogging, protection from harsh winds, and acidic soil conditions. In colder regions, consider growing in a large container that can be moved to a protected position during severe weather.
Why Choose Drimys Aromatica?
This remarkable plant offers something truly different for the adventurous gardener. Beyond its ornamental qualities, it provides a connection to ancient culinary traditions and the opportunity to grow your own unique spice. The combination of fragrant flowers, aromatic foliage, and edible berries makes it a multi-sensory garden experience that few other plants can match.
Buying Shrubs from Jacksons Nurseries
At Jacksons Nurseries we sell a variety of shrubs both evergreen and deciduous with a variety of flowering times throughout the year. At certain times of the year our shrubs you buy from us may not look like the images shown on our website when deciduous leaves have fallen, the shrub has finished flowering or has been trimmed back.
Some leaves on evergreen shrubs can be damaged in winter by frost or harsh winds but in spring new leaves will readily replace those damaged. This is quite normal on many evergreen varieties and is preferable to plants grown with excessive protection that show cold shock once planted out and establish less satisfactory initially.
Availability: Stock availability figures are provided as a guide only. There is a delay between orders being placed and the plants being gathered by our pulling team. During this time it may be possible for a member of the public to purchase these plants from our Garden Centre, while this is rare it is a possibility and we will notify you of any problems as soon as possible. This figure may also include plants that have not yet be flagged as unsaleable.
Pre-order: Pre-order times are given as a guide only and may vary dependent on the growing season. Orders containing Pre-ordered products will be shipped as a single order when all items become available. Large orders may be part shipped, please contact us on 01782 502741 or email sales@jacksonsnurseries.co.uk.
* Please Note: Shrubs in 20 litre pots and above might require a pallet delivery starting at £79.99 per pallet. Depending on the exact pot size and height it may be possible to get approximately 5 plants per pallet at no extra cost. The maximum height we can dispatch on a pallet is 2.0m, this includes the height of the pallet and pot.
Shrubs are deciduous or evergreen woody plants, and often provide fragrant flowers, berries and foliage. They are good for structural framework, and they can provide a wonderful shelter and food source for wildlife.
Planting and Conditions
Container grown shrubs can be grown at any time of year. It is a little known fact that shrubs planted in the autumn and winter will be easier to look after than those planted in the spring and summer, because they will have time to establish and become hardy in the cooler months.
Plant the shrub at the same depth as it was in its original pot. Planting too deeply can result in root and stem rot.
One of the biggest causes of death in new shrubs is drought stress, so keep it well watered until it’s established.
Make sure you loosen the soil prior to planting. Most shrubs are tolerant of most soil types as long as it is fairly well draining.
Most shrubs will grow happily in containers, but they will be much more demanding on feeding and watering than shrubs in the ground would be. They will also need potting on every couple of years so that they don’t suffocate or become stunted in their pot.
Aftercare and Pruning
Once established, shrubs generally do not require much water. However, at first they need careful, frequent watering and should not be left to dry out.
Shrubs in the ground are generally not demanding and in most cases, annual feeding with general purpose fertilizer will suffice. Shrubs in containers may need more feeding; usually from early spring until late summer.
Shrubs also benefit from mulching in order to supress weeds, conserve moisture and provide vital nutrients. Mulch also greatly improves soil conditions. Shrubs can be mulched in late winter, after fertiliser has been applied, but it can be mulched through autumn to late spring as long as the ground is damp.
All shrubs benefit from dead-heading once spent flowers become apparent. Rhododendrons and Lilac especially benefit from the removal of dead flowers.
Some shrubs may show signs of reverted growth or ‘sporting’. This is where random shoots of different leaves associated with the plant’s parentage begin to appear. Most commonly this is where plants with variegated leaves sprout pure green growths instead of variegated ones.
To control reversion, remove reverted shoots promptly to discourage them. Reverted shoots are usually much more vigorous than the variegated ones, and thus should be completely pruned out and cut back into wood containing variegated foliage.
Potential Issues
Although shrubs are usually very robust garden plants, they can sometimes start to decline with no apparent or obvious reason.
This will start with browning leaves, which could indicate plant stress due to lack of water or waterlogging, an establishment failure or, in the worst case scenario, honey fungus. Another cause of leaf browning is a high salt content in the soil. This could be a natural occurrence, especially if you live near the ocean, or it could be from over fertilisation.
To remedy a high salt content, cut back on fertiliser and step up your watering regime for the next few weeks. If you live by the ocean, this will be harder to remedy—but stepping up your watering will help to wash some of the salt away all the same.
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