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Solanaceae
Pepper Flower
Capsicum annuum
Spice of life and fiery determination.
- Family
- Solanaceae
- Genus
- Capsicum
- Native to
- Mexico, Central America, South America
- Bloom season
- Summer
- Type
- annual (perennial in tropics)
- Height
- 30–120 cm
- Sunlight
- full sun
- Soil
- rich, well-drained, loamy
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- 9–11 (annual elsewhere)
- Lifespan
- annual in temperate zones; short-lived perennial in tropics
Did you know
- Capsaicin, the compound that makes peppers hot, evolved as a defense against mammals — birds are immune and spread the seeds.
- The small white star-shaped flowers are self-pollinating but benefit from a gentle shake or buzz pollination.
- Columbus brought peppers back to Europe thinking they were related to black pepper — they are completely unrelated.
- The Scoville scale measures pepper heat: bell peppers score zero while Carolina Reapers exceed 2 million units.
- Peppers are technically berries, and a single plant can produce 50 to 100 fruits per season.
Color meanings
White
subtle beginnings before the heat
Purple
regal spice