Digging deeperPlant Library

Rooster Spur Pepper fruit

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Other Names:  Ornamental Chili, Chili Pepper

Group/Class:  Longum Group

Description:

This variety produces dense clusters of very showy fruit, upward facing atop the plant; peppers emerge green and mature to red; a stunning color display for hot, sunny locations; a hot variety used for seasoning food

Edible Qualities

Rooster Spur Pepper is an annual vegetable plant that is typically grown for its edible qualities, although it does have ornamental merits as well. It produces dark green narrow peppers (which are technically 'berries') which are usually ready for picking from mid summer to early fall. The fruit will often fade to red over time. The peppers have a hot taste and a crisp texture.

The peppers are most often used in the following ways:

• Fresh Eating
• Cooking
• Preserves
• Drying
• Seasoning

Planting & Growing

Rooster Spur Pepper will grow to be about 18 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 18 inches. This vegetable plant is an annual, which means that it will grow for one season in your garden and then die after producing a crop.

This plant can be integrated into a landscape or flower garden by creative gardeners, but is usually grown in a designated vegetable garden. It should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America. It can be propagated by cuttings; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Rooster Spur Pepper is a good choice for the vegetable garden, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor containers and hanging baskets. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a mass of flowers and foliage against which the larger thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.