The Black Pearl Ornamental Pepper, otherwise known as the Capsicum Annuum ‘Black Pearl’ or Bowles’ Golden Sedge, Carex Stricta ‘Aurea’, Carex elata ‘Bowles’ Golden’, Carex Acuta ‘Aurea’, Carex Flava ‘Aurea’, Japanese Sedge Grass, Variegated Tufted Sedge, is a rather well known ornamental grass plant by gardening enthusiasts around the world.
Best known for its low maintenance and moderate growth, this ornamental grass will likely liven up your house (or garden) with its black colored leaves. But, only if you learn how to take proper care of it for it to thrive.
This is why all the topics you need to know in order to achieve this will be covered in this Black Pearl Ornamental Pepper Care Guide. Ready? Let’s go!
The fundamental caring guidelines for every Black Pearl Ornamental Pepper can be summed up into the following:
- Water: The Black Pearl Ornamental Pepper prefers constant watering each week and more during the hot season.
- Light: Keep your Capsicum Annuum ‘Black Pearl’ in an environment where it can receive full sun on a daily basis.
- Soil: Make sure to keep the Black Pearl Ornamental Pepper in soil with poorly draining, to moist but well-draining, to even moisture retentive properties, so ideally, one that is made of loam and clay.
And as with many other plants, these are the only three care factors you need to remember to make sure your Black Pearl Ornamental Pepper is, for the most part, healthy and well to survive.
Scientific / Botanical Aspects
In botanical terms, the Black Pearl Ornamental Pepper belongs to the Cyperaceae family, the genus Carex and the species Elata, hence its scientific (or botanical) name Capsicum Annuum ‘Black Pearl’ (KAP-sih-kum AN-yoo-um).
As with other Carex’s, the Black Pearl Ornamental Pepper is a herbaceous plant, which means it will die back to the ground every year.
Growing Region
The Black Pearl Ornamental Pepper is a plant native to the Europe to Central Asia.
Knowing your plant’s native region is very useful, as it can give you tips on which environment is best for your Black Pearl Ornamental Pepper. If you keep it in mind, you can try to replicate these conditions at home, and you’ll likely end with a healthier plant.
With this in mind, the Capsicum Annuum ‘Black Pearl’ will be most used to the heat zones in the 3 – 9 region, as the plant hardiness level falls between 5a, 5b, 6b, 6a, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a and the ideal climate zone is between 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.
Growth and Size
Growth
In terms of size and growth, the Black Pearl Ornamental Pepper is a relatively moderate grower, which makes things somewhat easy for any plant enthusiast.
Size
But what exactly does this mean for your Black Pearl Ornamental Pepper? How large a pot should you consider, how tall, how wide can it get? Let’s jump in…
The Capsicum Annuum ‘Black Pearl’ can grow up to 1′ – 2′ (30cm – 60cm) in 1′ – 2′ (30cm – 60cm) and 2′ – 3′ (60cm – 90cm) in 2′ – 3′ (60cm – 90cm).
These dimensions make the Black Pearl Ornamental Pepper a relatively medium ornamental grass compared to others, so it’s best to keep this fact in mind since it will affect where you want to keep yours at home.
Also, expect it to grow in a wonderful columnar, and compact shape, which is something worthwhile to remember when making your garden landscape plans.
This is why experts recommend keeping an area of approximately 24″ – 36″ (60cm – 90cm) free so the Black Pearl Ornamental Pepper can spread to its best extent.
Water
In terms of watering, the Black Pearl Ornamental Pepper is a fairly simple plant to take care of.
This is mostly because it has a straightforward watering schedule and somewhat regular watering needs.
Specifically, most experts agree that the Capsicum Annuum ‘Black Pearl’ prefers constant watering each week and more during the hot season.
Which is why it is considered a plant with relatively average needs in terms of water.
Watering
As a rule of thumb, you should remember to keep your Black Pearl Ornamental Pepper in soil with poorly draining, to moist but well-draining, to even moisture retentive characteristics, as these will guarantee the right conditions for your plant to grow and thrive.
But, if you want a ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution to watering your Black Pearl Ornamental Pepper then you should consider the famous ‘finger’ test. To perform this test, you just need to put your finger in your plant’s soil and determine if it’s moist or not. If it is, then don’t water; if it isn’t, then please do. In any case, this test will allow you to know if your Black Pearl Ornamental Pepper needs or does not need water, every time.
Soil Mix
The Black Pearl Ornamental Pepper’s ideal soil potting mix is made out of loam and clay.
In addition to this, expert gardeners recommend having preferably alkaline, acid or neutral soil.
Light and Exposure
In terms of light & exposure, the Black Pearl Ornamental Pepper requires full sun in order for it to thrive under the right conditions.
Most experts agree that this ornamental grass will do well as long as you keep it in partial to full sun, and it will be able to grow properly.
Specifically, we recommend that you place your Capsicum Annuum ‘Black Pearl’ in little to partial shade (only 2-6 hours of direct sunlight a day), to full and direct sun (more 6 hours of direct sunlight per day).
Season
Being a herbaceous plant, the Black Pearl Ornamental Pepper will die back to the ground every year.
But, you can expect it to have its ‘prime-time’ during the spring (early, mid, late), the summer (early, mid, late), the fall, and during the winter.
Flowers
You can expect your Black Pearl Ornamental Pepper to flower around the spring months from April to June (spring).
The Black Pearl Ornamental Pepper produces some beautiful purple, or brown/copper flowers around this time of year.
Foliage
The leaves from the Black Pearl Ornamental Pepper have a beautiful black color during most of the year.
Attracts, Tolerance and Resistance
The Black Pearl Ornamental Pepper is well known for its tolerance to clay soil, wet soil and animals like deer, so don’t worry if any of these come along, your Capsicum Annuum ‘Black Pearl’ will be fine.
Garden
Now, let’s talk garden and how your Black Pearl Ornamental Pepper will look best in it.
Most Capsicum Annuum ‘Black Pearl’ owners agree that this ornamental grass will look great in most contemporary gardens of all types.
Other owners consider that they complement well most gardens of informal and cottage, city and courtyard, and in modern garden styles.
In particular, the Black Pearl Ornamental Pepper’s best location within your garden is in patio and containers, beds and borders, and in ponds and streams, others use it for landscaping in a container, mass planting, border, houseplant, or a specimen.
Conclusion
And we’ve come to an end. Fortunately, that’s everything you need to know about your Black Pearl Ornamental Pepper to keep it safe and sound in your garden or home. Enjoy planting!
