Download Chile Pequin - Native Plant Society of Texas

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.