Allspice
Pimenta dioica
(pa-MINT-ta dee-oh-EE-ka)
Evergreen in tropical regions
COMMON NAMES: ALLSPICE
FAMILY: Myrtaceae
 Allspice tree, photo Missouri Botanic Garden |
TYPE: Tropical tree
LOCATION: Hot, dry sites in full sun or in pots.
PLANTING: Seed in the spring or transplants anytime.
HEIGHT: Up to 30 feet
SPREAD: 20 feet
FINAL SPACING: One is enough.
BLOOM/FRUIT: Greenish-white flowers followed by berries similar to black pepper. It is dioecious so male and female plants must be present for fruit to develop.
GROWTH HABITS/CULTURE: Small tropical tree native to South America and the West Indies. It is evergreen and has aromatic bark, leaves, berries, and bunches of flowers. Glossy foliage.
PROBLEMS: It will freeze in the winter except in tropical areas or with careful protection.
HARVEST/STORAGE: Berries are gathered when mature but still green and dried for use.
CULINARY USES: Allspice is used to flavor food, especially to sweeten dishes with its peppery taste.
MEDICINAL USES: It is used as a warming medicine given as a tea for chills and flatulence.
Allspice flower, photo Wikimedia Commons
LANDSCAPE USES: Hardy to USDA zones 10-12, in zone 8 it is grown in greenhouses or is a container plant.
OTHER USES: Berries are eaten as a breath sweetener. Leaves and berries are used to make oil for cosmetics.
Dry allspice, photo from UCLA Biomedical Library
INSIGHT: Seeds are now available from specialty seed companies. Dried allspice seed in the grocery store has probably been heat-treated and will not be viable. Can be grown in pots in the summer anywhere, as well as in tropical regions and in greenhouses.
NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH:
There are two other shrubs native to the US east coast similar to Pimenta dioica that are in different families and have similar characteristics. Northern Spicebush or Wild Allspice is Lindera bensoin in the Laurel family. It has pleasant lemony smelling leaves and fruits small like allspice. This has indigenous use in the US and was shared with colonists largely for seasoning meats. A native plant, it extends from the US Southeast north into Canada. All parts of the plant are safe to use. For more information:
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
USDA NRCS Spicebush LIBE3 entry
The other is Carolina Allspice is Calycanthus floridus – also called Sweet Bubby, Sweet shrub, Bubbybush, or Strawberry Shrub – in the Calycanthaceae or Sweetshrub or Spicebushes family. This one is fragrant (leaves, bark, smell like a fruity mix) and is typically used as a fragrant shrub near walks and houses, but it has some toxic features. On this plant the flowers and seeds are poisonous and shouldn't be used in cooking. The bark can be shaved and used as a spice, it smells almost as strong as cinnamon. For more information:
North Carolina State Extension Gardener
U of Arkansas Landscape Shrubs Common Sweetshrub
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