Carolina Reaper Capsicum chinense
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- KAP-sih-kum chy-NEN-see
- Description
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"Habanero-type" peppers are a pepper species native to parts of South America. Like other pepper species, the fruits are brightly colored and used worldwide for food, spice, and medicine. It contains some of the hottest peppers to exist, including the current world record holder 'Carolina Reaper'.
Grow in rich, moist, well-drained soil in full sun. Plant only when nighttime temperatures are at least 55F; seedlings may be started indoors earlier and transplanted at this time. These plants enjoy heat and tolerate drought, though prolonged drought may affect fruit quality. These plants are resistant to deer browsing.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Peppers share many pests and diseases with other nightshade family plants. It is important to look out for aphids, whiteflies, cutworms, pepper maggots, and Colorado potato beetles. This plant is also sensitive to Verticillium wilt (a fungal pathogen) and mosaic virus (which should show a uniform yellow-green mosaic across the leaves followed by 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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- 'Carolina Reaper'
Developed in SC; hottest pepper officially recorded as of 2019
- 'Carolina Reaper'
- 'Carolina Reaper'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Carolina Reaper'
Developed in SC; hottest pepper officially recorded as of 2019
- 'Carolina Reaper'
- 'Carolina Reaper'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Capsicum
- Species:
- chinense
- Family:
- Solanaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Bolivia, northern Brazil, and Peru
- Wildlife Value:
- Birds are immune to the capsaicin in peppers and can safely eat the fruits with no ill effects. Therefore, these plants may attract birds.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Edible
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Vegetable
- Warm Season Vegetable
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 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
- Good Dried
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are a non-pulpy berry and vary considerably across cultivars in shape and color. Many tend to have a lumpy, crinkled appearance compared to other species. They contain high capsaicin levels.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- White, usually 5-parted flowers bloom in June and continue until frost.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Ovate leaves (to 3” long) that are deep green. The surface is commonly crinkled.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Nodes may darken to purple.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Edible Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Heat
- Problems:
- Problem for Children
