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Common Name: | Ornamental pepperoni |
| Scientific Name: | Capsicum | |
| Family: | Solanaceae | |
| Origin: | wasteland and lowland forest margins in tropical North and South America | |
| Leaves: | alternate or borne in groups of 2 or 3 at the nodes |
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| Flowers: | tubular or bell-shaped, yellow, white, green-white or purple-tinged, singly or in clusters of 2 or 3 from the leaf axils |
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| Fruits: | shiny, chambered, many-seeded, variably shaped, green at first, often ripening to yellow, orange or red | |
| Light: | bright filtered light indoor or full sun in the garden |
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| Soil: | loam-based potting compost or outside in well drained soil enriched with garden compost or manure |
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| Fertilizer: | when in growth apply a balanced liquid fertilizer every 10 days until fruit begins to color |
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| Air humidity: | high humidity in summer, mist flower daily with water to encourage fruiting |
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| Watering: | freely in growth |
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| Transplanting: | young plantlets are transplanted in spring in a 12 cm diameter pot |
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| Dimensions: | 20-50 cm in pot |
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| Propagation: | sow seed at 21 degrees Celsius (70 F) in late winter |
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| Life: | annual |
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| Pests and diseases: | susceptible to viruses, fungal wilt, anthracnose and powdery mildew; red spider mites and aphids may be a problem under glass |
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| Species and varieties: | C. annuum (Chilly pepper) - usually narrowly conical twisted friuts, Cerasiforme Group (Cherry pepper) - spherical fruits, Conioides Group (Cone pepper) - conical, erect fruits, Fasciculatum Group (Red cone pepper) - upright, conical fruits, Grossum Group (Bell pepper) - irregularly ovoid-bell-shaped fruits, Longum Group (Cayenne pepper) - pendent, tapered fruits. |
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| Tips: | in frost-prone areas are used as houseplants, for window-boxes and patio containers or for a warm greenhouse or conservatory |
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| Hardness: | frost tender |
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