Native Plants

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants

See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

rate this answer

Not Yet Rated

Thursday - June 21, 2007

From: El Reno, OK
Region: Southwest
Topic: Propagation
Title: Propagation by seed of Capsicum annuum
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I have always been told that the only way that a seed from a chili pequin pepper can germinate is that it has to be eaten by a bird and passed through it's digestive system. I have heard that there is a liquid solution that you could soak the seeds in to remove the coating from the seed so that it could be planted. Do you have any idea what this solution could be?

ANSWER:

Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum (chile pequin or chile piquin) is easy to grow from seed when planted after the weather has warmed according to Jill Nokes in How to Grow Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest. She suggests the following treatment to increase germination success:

"High germination rates were achieved by aerating the seeds 2-3 days in a solution of water mixed with potassium nitrate (1 tablespoon per gallon) before sowing. Seeds will germinate in 10-20 days."