I found this plant by accident when we stopped at a restaurant a few years back. The entry walk was landscaped with various ornamental plants which included these “miniature” pepper plants with fully mature crimson red fruits. Some had dropped from the plants and were scattered along the walk. I retrieved about three or four of the ripened pods and planted the seeds in containers for inside winter growth.

To make a long story short, I successfully raised two plants over winter, saving the seeds for spring planting outdoors. This year I have seven plants from seed, and the fruits are still in the green/yellow stage of development. I am hoping for full maturity before a killing frost occurs.

These peppers are extremely pungent with a “Scoville” rating of 50,000-100,000. I don’t know exactly what this rating consists of, or how it is measured, but I can personally say they are super-hot. Just to handle them requires caution, washing of hands and/or protective gloves. As an ornamental plant they are very attractive: We will overwinter at least one plant inside this season for seed-saving.

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