Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum. 80 days. Open-pollinated.
Florida Bird Pepper is an evergreen shrub native to the coastal hammocks of South and Central Florida. Small, compact plants have dark green foliage and produce copious amounts of tiny, colorful fruit that ripen from green to orange to red.
Birds (mockingbirds, in particular) love its ripened fruits, while bees and other native pollinators are attracted to its year-round blossoms.
The fruit is edible to humans but is extremely hot with a Scoville rating between 50,000 and 100,000 (that's hotter than a habanero!), and there was a time in South Florida when every home had a bottle of bird peppers in vinegar on the kitchen table so a small dash could be added to greens or other southern dishes.
Drought tolerant and generally pest free. Requires very little maintenance once they are established, but be sure their root system is well developed in their pots prior to transplanting.
Florida Bird Pepper
Growth Chart
Hardiness Zones: 8 to 11 Light Requirement: Full sun to partial shade Soil Type: Sandy, loamy, well drained Sow Depth: 1/4 inch Plant Spacing: 36 inches Germination Temp: 85ºF Germination Time: 21 days Maturation: 65 to 80 days Growing Tips
Scarification of the seeds is highly recommended prior to sowing and can be achieved by lightly scoring the surface of the seeds with course sandpaper. Germination rates will be about 50-60% without scarification.
In early spring, start seeds indoors in seed trays or individual pots 8 weeks prior to warm nightly temperatures. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in sterile media. Provide 85°F bottom heat, bright light, and keep the soil moist at all times. Seeds will germinate within 21 days. Be patient, though, as these native seeds require a little longer to germinate than modern cultivars!. Transplant seedlings into larger pots and grow until around 6 true leaves develop, then plant them into rich soil, about 36 inches apart, in a location that receives full sun.