Chili Pepper Capsicum annuum (Longum group)
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Chili Pepper:
- Phonetic Spelling
- KAP-sih-kum AN-yoo-um
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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The Longum group includes chili peppers and cayenne peppers. They are edible but quite hot. It is an annual herb or short-lived perennial that can be used as a houseplant or interiorscape. Use in the landscape in vegetable gardens, containers, window boxes, or as a tender, herbaceous annual bedding plant. Plants tolerate heat and drought well.
Pinching plants when they are young can help promote bushiness.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems. Insect pests may include aphids, Colorado potato beetles, cutworms, pepper maggots, red spider mite, slugs, snails and whiteflies. Potential diseases include bacterial and fungal leaf spot, mosaic virus, root rot, blossom end rot, and wilt.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Nuts" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Capsicum
- Species:
- annuum
- Family:
- Solanaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Tropical America
- Wildlife Value:
- May attract masked bees.
- Play Value:
- Edible fruit
- Edibility:
- Fruit edible when raw or cooked but can be quite hot.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Edible
- Herb
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Vegetable
- Warm Season Vegetable
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Mounding
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Orange
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- A shiny, tapered berry of various colors.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Insignificant
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- Small, solitary, axillary, white or greenish, 5-parted
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Alternate, simple, smooth margined
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Nodes may be purple in color.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Patio
- Walkways
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Heat
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Poisonous to Humans
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN. CAUSES SEVERE PAIN IN THE MOUTH IF EATEN! SKIN IRRITATION MINOR OR LASTING ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES. Burning or stinging of lips, tongue and throat; nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea; burning sensation of the eyes and skin; blistering after prolonged exposure.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Capsaicin and derivatives
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Seeds
