Pepper (Capsicum annuum)
The Takanotsume pepper is hot and it's also known as a "Hawks Claw Pepper". The Takanotsume pepper was originally brought to Japan by the Portuguese in the 1800's. It's slender, curved like a talon, and very spicy, coming in at 30,000-50,000 Scoville Units.
The Hawks Claw pepper is a short plant, generally growing to a maximum of 24" so it's great for containers. Dozens of beautiful peppers grow upwards from the plant turning from green to bright red as the fruits mature.
We like to use the Takanotsume pepper as dried pepper flakes and they also make a delicious pickled pepper that will spice up any dish. If you like to make hot sauces, you'll love the heat and smoky, citrusy flavors of the Hawks Claw pepper!
Origin: We received the parent seed of our Takanotsume peppers from cousins while visiting Japan. They have grown and saved this variety in their container gardens in Tokyo for generations.
(Approximately 20 seeds per packet)
Planting Instructions: We recommend starting peppers indoors in a sunny and warm location 4-6 weeks before last frost in spring. Plant outdoors in full sun after danger of frost in spring. Note: pepper seeds need soil temperatures to be at least 70 F to germinate and we use a heating pad under the seedling tray to maintain temperature.
