Purple Flash Pepper
Capsicum annuum 'Purple Flash'
An ornamental perennial grown as an annual, featuring dark purple to black foliage splashed with white and violet, accompanied by small purple flowers and upright dark purple pods.
- Light
- Full sun, requiring at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day.
- Water
- Water deeply when the top inch of soil becomes dry. Avoid prolonged drought, but ensure soil is not continuously saturated to prevent root issues.
- Growth
- Compact, bushy, branching growth habit, reaching a mature height and spread of 12 to 15 inches with a moderate growth rate.
Care instructions
Provide full sun, well-draining soil, and consistent moisture without waterlogging. Feed with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer during the active growing season.
Growing details
Sunlight
Full sun, requiring at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day.
Watering
Water deeply when the top inch of soil becomes dry. Avoid prolonged drought, but ensure soil is not continuously saturated to prevent root issues.
Soil
Rich, loamy, well-draining soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH range of 6.0 to 6.8.
Hardiness zone
USDA hardiness zones 9 through 11, typically grown as an annual in cooler climates.
Growth habit
Compact, bushy, branching growth habit, reaching a mature height and spread of 12 to 15 inches with a moderate growth rate.
Bloom season
Blooms from late spring through autumn, producing small, star-shaped purple flowers.
Propagation
Propagated primarily through seeds sown indoors in early spring, or via stem cuttings under high humidity conditions.
Common pests & issues
Susceptible to aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites, as well as fungal root rots caused by overwatering. Prevent with proper air circulation and well-draining substrate.
Similar species
Other ornamental pepper cultivars such as 'Black Pearl' and 'Chilly Willy', distinguishable by 'Purple Flash's unique white-and-violet variegation on dark foliage.