Cold Hardy Chili Pepper Seeds
Cold Hardy Chili Pepper Seeds - Capsicum flexuosum - Ke huí
Ke huí
- Hardy to Zone 7
Full Sun to Partial Shade
- Germination Tested N/A
- 10+ seeds per packet
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Capsicum flexuosum is a small wild perennial pepper species that is hardy to -15°C (5°F)! The peppers are slightly larger than a pea, but the plants are heavy producers, and come back year after year. Fruits are quite hot with a fruity flavour. Plants continue growing and ripening peppers into the late fall, even when nights are below freezing.
The plants can grow up to 10 feet tall, and develop woody stems over a few years. They will lose their leaves during the winter, but will leaf out around May once temperatures die back. When the plants are young, they will likely die back to the ground in winter, but they will regrow from the roots.
At least two plants are needed to set fruit. When plants are young, it can help to transfer pollen from plant to plant using a small paintbrush or q-tip to help with pollination. Once the flowers get more numerous, the bees should have no problem doing the pollination for you.
In my experience, plants are best propagated by layering or root cuttings, although half-wood, green cuttings are said to work too.
This is a very rare species native to southern Brazil, where it is sometimes used as a spice. Capsicum flexuosum has apparently been crossed to other pepper species, but all my attempts and others I have heard about by backyard growers have failed. I am interested in breeding this pepper with others to create larger, cold tolerant peppers. If you have had success doing this, please be in touch!
Botanical sample. Not germination tested. Seeds take a long time to germinate, see tips below.
Growing Instructions
Growing Instructions
Shipping & Returns
Shipping & Returns
We ship seeds within Canada for a flat fee of $6, United States for $25, and internationally for $25*. Live plants and bulbs can only be shipped within Canada.
Shipping in Canada
We ship seeds in Canada via regular letter mail, which is an untracked service, and usually takes 1-2 weeks to arrive. Larger bulbs and plants are sent via tracked flat rate box.
Shipping to the US
We ship all US orders by tracked packet and they usually take two weeks to arrive.
According to the USDA, most seeds require an import permit to be brought into the US and the permit is free and useable for multiple orders/years. The package will list the contents as "Garden Seeds". In our experience shipping seeds over several years, most small orders will make it across the border without issues, but occasionally they will be held at US Customs.
It is your responsibility to ensure you have the required import permit and Cicada Seeds will not be responsible for any orders held or confiscated by US customs.
Shipping Internationally
International orders are usually shipped via untracked packet. The package will list the contents as "Garden Seeds". It is your responsibility to ensure you have the required import permit and Cicada Seeds will not be responsible for any orders held of confiscated by customs.
International shipping countries include: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom
If you have any issues with the quality of your order, please contact us within 60 days and we will make it right!
*Shipping fees are in Canadian dollars.
Ecologically Grown
Ecologically Grown
Seeds are grown ecologically without the use of chemical pesticides or fertilizers.
