Explosive Ember

Also known as Explosive Embers

Explosive Ember is a Capsicum annuum cultivar from United States. Capsi’s sourced range is 30,000–50,000 SHU (Vendor Claim). Flavor is sweet, peppery. Used for Chop ripe pods into salsa, soup, or stew. Thin walls also dry well for a cayenne-style powder.. Heat is a range, not a single marketing number.

Explosive Ember is a compact Capsicum annuum grown for dark purple foliage and small upright pods. The fruit ripens through purple and orange to bright red on a plant short enough for a pot or windowsill.

Growing

~85 days to maturity

Fruit size

2–3 cm

Flavor & Use

Ripe red pods have a simple sweetness under fast heat. Purple fruit tastes more plain and peppery.

sweetpeppery

Culinary

Chop ripe pods into salsasoupor stew. Thin walls also dry well for a cayenne-style powder.

About

The plant is a low bush, usually 25 to 40 cm tall and about as wide, with dark purple leaves and purple-tinged flowers. Pods are conical, about 2 to 3 cm long, and stand upright in clusters. They start deep purple, pass through orange, and finish bright red. Flavor is a simple sweetness under a quick cayenne-level heat. The fruit is edible and dries easily, though most gardeners grow the plant for the color show in a pot or on a windowsill.

Backstory

US seed houses and bedding catalogs have sold Explosive Ember as a compact ornamental since at least 2003, when Dave's Garden growers were already logging it. A 2013 greenhouse trade note pointed retailers to Syngenta Flowers. Catalogs list the origin as unknown or USA. No published release names a breeder or a cross.

Appearance

ShapeConical
ColorPurple · Orange · Red
Size2–3 cm
WallThin
SkinGlossy

Growing

SunFull
WaterModerate
ClimateSubtropical
Days to maturity85 days
Plant height25–40 cm
Soil pH5.5–6.8
Germination8–21 days
Spacing30 cm
HardinessZones 9-11

Heritage

Explore

Nothing reputable documents a pedigree for this pepper.

Sources

FAQ

How hot is Explosive Ember?
Capsi’s sourced range is 30,000–50,000 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 Explosive Ember taste like?
Ripe red pods have a simple sweetness under fast heat. Purple fruit tastes more plain and peppery.
How do I grow Explosive Ember?
Explosive Ember: about 85 days to maturity, subtropical climate, full sun, hardiness zones 9-11.
What can I substitute for Explosive Ember?
Black Pearl Pepper, Cayenne