Chili Pepper
Capsicum annuum
An herbaceous plant with simple alternate leaves and white or purple star-shaped flowers that produce fleshy fruits containing numerous seeds.
- Light
- Full sun, at least 6 to 8 hours per day
- Water
- Requires regular watering; soil should be kept consistently moist but not waterlogged. Drought can cause blossom drop.
- Growth
- Usually grown as an annual; typically reaches 1 to 3 feet in height and spread depending on the cultivar.
Care instructions
Requires full sun, well-draining soil, and consistent moisture. Apply a balanced fertilizer monthly during the growing season.
Growing details
Sunlight
Full sun, at least 6 to 8 hours per day
Watering
Requires regular watering; soil should be kept consistently moist but not waterlogged. Drought can cause blossom drop.
Soil
Rich, loamy, well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 6.8
Hardiness zone
Zones 9-11 as a perennial; grown as an annual elsewhere
Growth habit
Usually grown as an annual; typically reaches 1 to 3 feet in height and spread depending on the cultivar.
Bloom season
Spring through summer; small white or greenish-white star-shaped flowers.
Propagation
Most commonly started from seeds sown indoors 8-10 weeks before the last frost date.
Common pests & issues
Susceptible to aphids, whiteflies, blossom end rot, and fungal wilts (Fusarium or Verticillium). The plant in the image shows signs of possible fungal leaf spot and fruit rot.
Similar species
Capsicum frutescens (Tabasco peppers), which tend to have smaller, more upright fruits and a more perennial woody growth habit.