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‘Bush Red Pepper’ is hot stuff!
(by Gina M. Mahon - September 03, 2008)
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Photo By Gina M. Mahon
‘Bush Red Peppers’ are valued for their fruit.
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The seasons are beginning to change and where else is it more noticeable that in our gardens. Autumn is quickly approaching. Along the edges of gardens, there are window boxes and containers that may be longing for a change.
Yes, there are the traditional mums which come in a wide variety of color, size and flower shapes. There is nothing wrong with using mums, and with a little care, they will even come back next year. However, if you want to try something a bit different, something that will ‘heat up’ the look of your garden beds and planters, you may want to plant Capsicum annuum, the ‘Bush Red Pepper’.
This ornamental pepper is an annual and is native to North and South America. The name comes from the Greek word, kapo, meaning to bite into something that has a hot, spicy taste. Most are editable but to be on the safe side, I would not recommend eating them. One can not be sure what has been applied on them from the time they were planted ‘til the time you purchased them.
These peppers do flower but their flower is not showy and the plant is more valued for its fruit. Unlike the name suggests, the fruit comes in a variety of colors, not just red. ‘Aurora’ has purple fruit. ‘Black Prince’ has black leaves with fruit that starts out black but turns red at maturity. ‘Mosaic’ has white fruit that will have either red or purple blotches on it. ‘Candlelight’ produces peppers that will turn different shades of yellow, orange and red. For the holidays, try ‘Holiday Cheer’ which is a compact plant usually sold during the Christmas season with rounded fruit rather than the long one to two inch shape peppers associated with the autumn plants. The fruit of ‘Holiday Cheer’ starts out cream-colored then turns yellow with a hint of purple ending up red when it’s matured.
Depending on the variety of the ornamental peppers, excluding the ‘Holiday Cheer’ which is compact, the plants grow between 10 and 20 inches in a rounded shape. They require full sun with a moist soil but can tolerate short periods of dryness. Generally used as an indoor plant, these ornamental peppers will look great when used outdoors in your garden as edging, in mass as a carpet or standing alone in a planter. Potting them in smaller planters makes it easy to bring them inside just before the first frost of the season thus extending your enjoyment and making it a great value as well!
Also, still blooming are the annuals, generally until the first frost, but our perennials have already started to seed. Now is the time to start collecting their seeds. Spread them throughout your gardens or share them with your friends. But don’t forget to leave some for our feathered friends! Seed heads attract a large variety of migrating birds, as well as the ones that will winter in our area. These seeds serve as nourishment as they travel hundreds of miles to their winter homes as well as for those who remain.
Remember – there can never be enough flowers, so enjoy!”
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