Tags: Open Pollinated

Growing Practices: No Pesticides No Herbicides No Fungicides No Synthetic Fertilizers

Latin Name: Capsicum chinense

Days to Maturity: 110

Description:

This is a brand-new variety release and combines the best qualities of three amazing peppers. One of very few habanero-type peppers with purple foliage and young fruit, it makes a striking, beautiful plant. Fruits are large and plump, ripening to a bright-red with all color shades in between. It has a fiery heat level with the fruity flavor and aroma that this species is known for.

Seeds produced in Morgantown, WV. Bred and released by Sylvan Roots. Germination 71% 11-13-2023.

Story of this Seed:

One parent is 'Maldivian Heart x Purple Bhut', part of the Christopher Phillips seed collection. Of course, this variety is itself a cross of two varieties and still showed some variability for me when it naturally cross-pollinated with another pepper variety in 2017 called 'Apocalypse Red'. 'Maldivian Heart' produces large red fruits with a somewhat distorted shape and originated in the Maldives, a cluster of islands near India. Its parentage brings large fruit and plant size to 'Purple Devil Emoji'. 'Purple Bhut' is a variant of the ghost pepper, 'Bhut Jolokia' - or at least some say so. It may not be a true Jolokia but it brings the rare purple foliage and young fruit trait and a ton of heat. 'Apocalypse' makes plump wrinkled fruit on a sturdy plant and brings even more heat to the table with a scoville heat unit rating of at least 1.2 million. The combination makes 'Purple Devil Emoji' extremely hot with high yields of smooth red fruit on a large sturdy plant with purple coloration.

Growing Tips:

Habanero-type peppers can be successfully grown in most areas but crave warm nights, full sun, and consistent moisture and fertility. This variety requires no staking and naturally branches to create a bush up to 3 ft tall, although heavy crops of fruit and wind can still make them fall over. They are container-friendly provided you maintain moisture and fertility. They are slow to develop in spring but always mature large amounts of fruit before frost in my zone 6 climate. Always wear gloves when handling opened fruit and watch out for dangerous fumes! Remember that even the hottest peppers can make mild and delicious hot sauce with a good recipe and combination with bell peppers or fruit to reduce heat levels. And one plant can produce a year's worth of hot sauce so it is well-worth growing!

A note about seedling care: seeds may take 3 weeks to germinate and benefit from a heat mat at 75-80 F. If they don't sprout right away, be patient! Only cover with 1/4 inch of potting mix and do not allow to dry out. Once seedlings sprout, you may need to thin out a few plants with green leaves. There is still some variation in this variety and some green-leaved plants may sprout but they are very easily to spot and remove at the seedling stage.