Cayenne Pepper
Capsicum annuum
- Native to:
- Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Cayman Is., Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guam, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Leeward Is., Mexico, Navassa Island, Netherlands Antilles, Nicaragua, Palau, Panamá, Peru, Southwest Caribbean, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, Turks-Caicos Is., U.S. Minor Outlying Islands, Virgin Islands, Windward Is.
Sabina Bajracharya
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Solanaceae
- Genus:
- Capsicum
- Species:
- Capsicum annuum
- USDA Symbol:
- CAAN4
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Annual | Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb , Subshrub
- Height:
- 120 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun,Part Shade,Shade
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- may,jun,jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- white, cream
Wildlife Benefits
- Caterpillars:
- ★★★☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Anhimella contrahens, Armyworm moth (Pseudaletia unipuncta), beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua), Black cutworm (Agrotis ipsilon), corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea), Eggplant fruit borer (Neoleucinodes elegantalis), eggplant leafroller moth (Lineodes integra), Erelieva quantulella, Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), Five-spotted hawk moth (Manduca quinquemaculatus), Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella), Lineodes triangulalis, Lorita abornana, Polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus), Potato tuber moth (Phthorimaea operculella), Pulse pod borer (Etiella zinckenella), rascal dart moth (Agrotis malefida), Southern armyworm (Spodoptera eridania), stalk borer moth (Papaipema nebris), stored nut moth (Paralipsa gularis), tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta), underworld dart (Agrotis subterranea), Variegated cutworm (Peridroma saucia)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Moths:tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- fertile, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- prefers warm, frost-free environments
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Seeds germinate best at warm temperatures 21-29°C. Light not required for germination but enhances seedling vigor.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
ORGHPS Germination Guide: Sow @ 20C. Germinates within 3 months.