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Chile Pequin is a NICE! Plant for Summer 2014 Chile Pequin (Capsicum annuum), also known as Chile Petin or Bird Pepper, makes a delightful woodsy-looking ground cover under large trees or may be used as a small accent shrub in partial-sun locations. It usually grows as a woody, thin understory shrub with small, smooth, heart-shaped leaves. It blooms continuously throughout spring, summer, and fall and produces a profusion of small, very hot edible red peppers loved by many birds — especially our state bird, the mockingbird. It is often spread from seed, but is not invasive by any means. It adapts to a wide variety of soil types (sand, loam, caliche, or limestone) and either moist or dry conditions. Plants grown in full shade will be somewhat thin, while those grown in more sun produce a thicker branching structure. It is happiest in the dappled shade beneath a tree. As for deer-resistance, young plants are very susceptible to browsing until the red hot peppers appear. Unlike birds, who will happily eat the hottest of chile peppers, deer (and most other mammals) are quite affected by the painful effects of capsaicin (the substance that makes chile peppers hot.) Chile Pequin is the native chile pepper from which many edible chilies have been derived. Its natural range extends from tropical America through the southernmost tip of Texas, north to Waco, east to Florida, and west to Arizona. In the Hill Country, Chile Pequin is deciduous and rarely reaches over two to three feet tall. It may freeze to the ground during the winter, but comes back from its roots the following spring. Further south it may be evergreen and grows up to 5′ tall. Add a few Chile Pequin plants to your landscape this summer, near a window if possible, to enjoy watching the mockingbirds pick from them daily. And if you’d like to add some fire to your cooking, dry some of the mature red peppers on a sheet of newspaper for a few days, then grind them up and keep in a shaker by the stove. They are very good in egg and meat dishes or can be used like crushed red pepper (though much hotter) on pizza, grilled veggies, etc. Caring for Chile Pequin Planting Instructions: Dig a hole at least two times wider than, but the same depth as the root ball in the nursery container. Sides of the hole should be irregular, not smooth. Remove plant from container, taking care to support the root ball. Loosen exterior roots gently with fingers. If the plant is root-bound, the outer roots may be cut in several places if they cannot be loosened by hand. Lift the plant by the root ball and place it in the hole. Backfill using soil that was dug from the hole. Do not add any soil to the top of the root ball, but a thin layer of compost may be spread over the soil surface. Gently firm the soil with hands, but do not tamp. Place 3-4 inches of mulch over the bare soil and root ball around the plant, but not touching the base of the plant. Watering Instructions: Water in well after planting to settle soil around roots. An organic-based root stimulator may be used following instructions on the product label. Water deeply a couple of times a week for 2-4 weeks after planting, then every 7-10 days, as needed, during the first growing season. Check moisture an inch or two into soil at the edge of the rootball to determine soil moisture. Skip a watering after a rainfall of ½ to 1 inch. Maintain this watering schedule until the first fall. Reduce watering during fall and winter. In a “normal” year, no watering may be necessary during fall and winter, but during a dry period, monthly watering may be needed. From the second spring and thereafter, water monthly only in periods of drought.