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CAPSICUM annuum (CAPPA SERIES, Cerasiforme Group)

Image of Capsicum annuum (Cerasiforme Group, CAPPA SERIES)

Family

Solanaceae

Botanical Name

CAPSICUM annuum( Cerasiforme Group, CAPPA SERIES)

Plant Common Name

Ornamental Pepper

General Description

Bred primarily for the florist trade, these cherry pepper cultivars bear small round colorful fruit 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 or white fruits that ripen to orange or 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.

These warm season annuals or short-lived perennials grow 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.

These cherry peppers make excellent choices for annual plantings and containers. 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

Characteristics

  • AHS Heat Zone

    12 - 1

  • Sunset Zone

    A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

  • Plant Type

    Annual

  • Sun Exposure

    Full Sun

  • Height

    12"-40" / 30.5cm - 101.6cm

  • Width

    8"-20" / 20.3cm - 50.8cm

  • Bloom Time

    Spring, Summer, Indeterminate

  • Native To

    Mexico, Central America, South America

Growing Conditions

  • Soil pH

    Neutral

  • Soil Drainage

    Well Drained

  • Soil type

    Loam, Sand

  • Growth Rate

    Medium

  • Water Requirements

    Average Water

  • Habit

    Upright/Erect

  • Seasonal Interest

    Spring, Summer, Fall

Ornamental Features

  • Flower Interest

    Insignificant

  • Flower Color

    White

  • Fruit Color

    White, Yellow, Red, Green, Orange, Ivory

  • Foliage Color (Spring)

    Green

  • Foliage Color (Summer)

    Green

  • Foliage Color (Fall)

    Green, Black

  • Fragrant Flowers

    No

  • Fragrant Fruit

    No

  • Fragrant Foliage

    No

  • Bark or Stem Fragrant

    No

  • Flower Petal Number

    Single

  • Repeat Bloomer

    Yes

  • Showy Fruit

    Yes

  • Edible Fruit

    Yes

  • Showy Foliage

    No

  • Foliage Texture

    Medium

  • Foliage Sheen

    Matte

  • Evergreen

    No

  • Showy Bark

    No

Special Characteristics

  • Usage

    Bedding Plant, Container, Cutflower, Dried Flower/Everlasting, Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Mixed Border, Tropical

  • Sharp or Has Thorns

    No

  • Invasive

    No

  • Self-Sowing

    No