Bird Pepper, Capsicum annuum

Bird Pepper, Capsicum annuum, is the only chili native to the US! It is a small,

short-lived perennial or annual shrub that grows to about 2 ft tall. Bird Pepper

loves full sun and will tolerate some shade. It is tolerant of short dry periods, but

does not like to be dry for long.

The tiny white flowers are loved by bees from May to October. The peppers are

red when ripe and loved by birds. A blue jay in my backyard loves to eat mine!

This pepper is edible to humans, but use caution because they are hot! It typically

measures between 50,000 and 100,000 Scoville units, but some have been

documented at over 1,000,000 units. That’s hotter than a habanero! Wear rubber

gloves to break open the ripe berries to save the seeds. The seeds germinate

without pre-treatment, but can be slow to germinate.