woodland wildflower
Chili pepper
Capsicum annuum
Also known as Chile Tepin, Chile Pequin, Chiltepin, Chile Petin, Bird Pepper, Turkey Pepper, Cayenne Pepper
1 of 2Native to Arizona and Texas
- Light Full sun to shade Sun tolerance
- Moisture Moist Moisture preference
- Zones n/a Cold to heat range
- Bloom Jan–Dec Flowering time
- Height up to 2 ft to 0.6 m
- Life cycle Annual or perennial Annual to perennial
In the garden
A woodland wildflower for sun through shade and evenly moist soil. Its white flowers peak in April. At up to 2 ft, it suits shade gardens and woodland edges.
Growing conditions
Light
Full sun Partial shade Full shade
Moisture
Dry Moist Wet
When it blooms
The Chili pepper's white flowers bloom January to December, peaking in April. This spring display draws bees and butterflies.
Chili pepper blooms whiteFoliage
Pollinators & wildlife
- Bees Common Eastern Bumble Bee
also Western Honey Bee, Eastern Carpenter Bee, Ligated Furrow Bee +30 more
Pure Green Sweat bee, Black-and-gold Bumble Bee, Golden Sweat Bee, Horn-faced Mason Bee, Bristle Sweat Bee, Cresson's Sweat Bee, Experienced Sweat Bee, Lasioglossum subviridatum, Buff-tailed Bumble Bee, Obscure Sweat Bee, Black Slender-Stingless bee, George Eickwort's Sweat Bee, Tetragonula carbonaria, Paulista Bumble Bee, Lasioglossum oceanicum, Admirable Sweat Bee, Lasioglossum zephyrum, Nightmare Sweat Bee, Lasioglossum pilosum, Lasioglossum tegulare, Nomia bouyssoui, Australian Austral-Stingless Bee, Exomalopsis analis, Chilicola ashmeadi, Ceratina sapphira, Lasioglossum nanotegula, Augochlora smaragdina, Nomia westwoodi, Valley Carpenter Bee, White Combed-Sweat Bee - Butterflies Variegated Fritillary also Long-tailed Skipper, Great Southern White, Dorantes Longtail
- Flower flies Common Drone Fly also Oblique Streaktail, Eurasian Smoothwing
- Also visited by
- Moths: Carolina Sphinx, Common Tan Wave
- Beetles: Goldenrod Soldier Beetle, Variable Ladybird Beetle
- Wasps: Zethus spinipes
Butterflies that use this plant
Documented host and nectar records. Each links to a planting guide for that butterfly.
- Variegated fritillarynectar
Full plant details
Where it grows
- Habitat
- WoodlandThe wild plant community it grows in.
- Native range
- Arizona and TexasUnited States (2): AZ, TX. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
Growing conditions
- Light
- Full sun to shadeHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
- Moisture
- MoistThe soil dampness it prefers, from dry to wet.
- Soil
- clay, heavy clay, sandy loamThe soils it grows in naturally.
- Soil texture
- Light to heavy (sandy to clay)The soil grade it prefers, from sand to clay.
- Soil pH
- Mildly acid to mildly alkalineThe acidity to alkalinity it tolerates (7 is neutral).
- Water use
- LowHow thirsty it is, a rough guide to how often to water.
Growth & form
- Height
- up to 2 ft (to 0.6 m)Typical mature height.
- Spread
- ~3 ft (1 m)How wide one plant gets, a guide to spacing.
- Life cycle
- Annual or perennialWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).
- Growth rate
- RapidA relative ranking versus other plants of the same type (USDA), not an absolute rate.
Flowers, foliage & fruit
- Type
- WildflowerWhat kind of plant it is.
- Bloom
- Jan–DecWhen it flowers.
- Flower color
- WhiteThe bloom color, or colors.
- Fruit/Seeds
- ripens Jan–DecThe seed or fruit it sets after flowering.
- Toxicity
- None knownWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.