Kieft-Pro-Seeds
Family
Solanaceae
Botanical Name
CAPSICUM annuum 'Cappa Round Red'( Cerasiforme Group, CAPPA SERIES)
Plant Common Name
Cappa Round Red Ornamental Chile, Ornamental Chili Pepper
General Description
Bred primarily for the florist trade, this recently introduced cherry pepper bears small, round, brilliant red fruits atop erect stems. Like all culinary peppers, cherry peppers (known botanically as the Cerasiforme group) trace their origin to the American tropics, where they have been cultivated since pre-Columbian times.
The bushy, knee-high plants bear thin, oval, medium- to dark-green leaves on strong upright stems. Inconspicuous white flowers appear in warm weather, followed by small, globular to ovoid, green fruits that ripen to tomato-red. The edible fruits are hot and pungent. The hollow, chambered interior is divided by spongy ribbing which supports many small, flattened, rounded seeds, which are hotter than the fruit's flesh. Plants sold as ornamentals may have been treated with pesticides or other chemicals that render their fruits unsuitable for culinary use.
This warm season annual or short-lived perennial grows easily in favorable conditions. Full sun, warmth, proper spacing, and fertile well-drained soil are required for good growth and fruit production. Vascular wilts and fungal diseases can be a problem in subpar conditions.
This cherry pepper makes an excellent choice for annual plantings, containers, and cutting gardens. Potted plants will often survive the winter in a warm sunny place indoors.
Hot peppers get their heat from the compound capsaicin – the higher its concentration, the hotter the pepper. Capsaicin concentration is measured and expressed in Scoville units. For more information about the Scoville Scale see http://www.chilliworld.com/FactFile/Scoville_Scale.asp
