Black Heart Pepper

The fruits develop a fruity sweetness particularly when black, with a good aroma preserved from its parent varieties.

Black Heart Pepper plants grow up to 1.2 meters tall and produce striking purple flowers. The young leaves often display purple veins that may fade to dark green as they mature, while stems can appear dark purple to black. The heart-shaped chilies measure about 2 to 3 centimeters and start out black or dark purple before turning a deep red when fully ripe. These relatively thick-walled peppers offer a heat ranging from 5,000 to 20,000 Scoville units, making them suitable for those who enjoy a spicy kick without extreme intensity. Their flavor profile includes fruity sweetness especially in the black stage, along with preserved aromatic qualities from their parent lines. Gardeners appreciate them for both culinary applications like pickling, stuffing, and drying, as well as ornamental value due to their unique coloration and compact fruit shape. They thrive in full sun with well-drained soil, require moderate watering, and can continue producing into late fall in protected environments. Propagation starts indoors in mid-February with seeds soaked for 24 hours; plants benefit from shaking for pollination and fertilization after transplanting.

Developed in 2009 through a cross between Black Hungarian and Red Cherry Chili by Michael Theurl in Zirl, Austria, with selection continuing thereafter by Open Source Seeds, preserving the aroma and heat from both parents.