Pepper – Capsicum annuum var. annuum

Common Name: Pepper, Ornamental Pepper, Chili pepper

Botanical Name: Capsicum annuum var. annuum, CAP-si-cum AN-you-um

Decorative Life: Not applicable.

Flower Color: Brown, Orange, Purple, Red, Yellow

Availability: Spring

Irrigating with water containing very low levels of chlorine (2-8 ppm) can cause significant growth reductions with some cultivars.

• Member of the Solanaceae (nightshade family).
• Native to Central and South America.
• Common relatives include tobacco, eggplant, petunia, tomato and potato.

• Glossy fruit, 1-3 inches long, round to elongated in shape, in loose clusters at stem ends.
• Leafy stems 6-8 inches long.
• Plant is an annual, classed as a dicotyledon, leaves not parallel veined.

• From the Greek “kapto” (to bite) referring to the hot taste of some cultivars.
• The specific epithet name annuum means annual.
• This family has many poisonous members including the common weed, deadly nightshade, and the green skin of potatoes. On the other hand, it is a source of many commercial foods including potato, tomato, pepper and eggplant. Tobacco also is a member.