# Black Pearl Pepper

Also known as Ornamental Pepper Black Pearl.
Species: Capsicum annuum.

Black Pearl Pepper is a Capsicum annuum stabilized from Mid-Atlantic United States, United States. Capsi’s sourced range is 5,000–30,000 SHU (Vendor Claim). Flavor is sweet, citrusy. Used for salsas, soups and stews, garnishes, dried flakes. Heat is a range, not a single marketing number.

## Heat sources

- 10,000–30,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  Texas Hot Peppers Black Pearl seed listing
  https://texashotpeppers.net/products/black-pearl

- 15,000–30,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  Tyler Farms Black Pearl Pepper Seeds
  https://www.tyler-farms.com/black-pearl-pepper-seeds/

- 15,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  HRSeeds Black Pearl Pepper product page
  https://www.hrseeds.com/product-page/black-pearl-pepper

- 30,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  Pepper Joe's Black Pearl Pepper Seeds
  https://pepperjoe.com/products/black-pearl-pepper-seeds

- 30,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  NE Seed Black Pearl Ornamental Pepper Seeds
  https://www.neseed.com/products/black-pearl-ornamental-pepper-seeds

- 5,000–10,000 SHU · Vendor Claim
  Gaia Organic Seeds Black Pearl Hot Pepper
  https://gaiaorganics.ca/product/black-pearl-hot-pepper/

## Heritage

Stabilized

Black Pearl Pepper is a stabilized line from 94C27 and 86 Arboretum-1.

Credit: John R. Stommel and Robert J. Griesbach, USDA-ARS · 2005

Parents:
- 94C27 (Not a named variety)
- 86 Arboretum-1 (Not a named variety)

Stommel and Griesbach’s 2005 HortScience release and the USDA-ARS abstract both describe Black Pearl as a true-breeding F8 from 94C27, a Royal Black segregant, crossed with 86 Arboretum-1. The founding parents are breeding-line labels, not sold cultivars.

## Page sources

- [HortScience 40(5):1571–1573 (2005), Stommel and Griesbach cultivar release](https://journals.ashs.org/view/journals/hortsci/40/5/article-p1571.xml)
- [USDA ARS publication record for Capsicum annuum L. 'Black Pearl'](https://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publication?seqNo115=174146)
- [USDA ARS news: 2005 release and 2006 AAS award](https://www.ars.usda.gov/news-events/news/research-news/2006/black-pearl-beauty-with-a-bite/)
- [All-America Selections official 2006 winner page](https://all-americaselections.org/product/ornamental-pepper-black-pearl/)
- [Proven Winners plant listing: height, hardiness, fruit color](https://www.provenwinners.com/plants/capsicum/black-pearl-pepper-capsicum)
- [PepperScale: flavor and kitchen use notes](https://pepperscale.com/black-pearl-pepper/)

## FAQ
### How hot is Black Pearl Pepper?

Capsi’s sourced range is 5,000–30,000 SHU (Vendor Claim). Capsi uses a sourced range and a trust tier, not a single marketing number. How we verify heat: https://web.thecapsi.app/learn/heat-and-capsaicin/how-we-measure-heat

### What does Black Pearl Pepper taste like?

Light citrusy-sweet flavor reminiscent of a ripe red bell pepper, with a slow-building heat.

### How do I grow Black Pearl Pepper?

Black Pearl Pepper: about 90 days to maturity, warm-season climate, full sun, hardiness zones 9-11.

### What can I substitute for Black Pearl Pepper?

serrano pepper, cayenne pepper

Page: https://web.thecapsi.app/pepper/black-pearl-pepper
Catalog: https://web.thecapsi.app/data