Pepper, Buena Mulata

Buena Mulata is a cayenne type but unlike a typical red cayenne, this one is a true stunner.  This has been part of my personal garden for the last 5 years - I love it because it checks ALL the boxes for me: 

• beautiful (ornamental)
• super easy to grow & prolific In our climate
• delicious!  

Fruits start out deep purple and morph thru a rainbow of colors: Purple > creamy yellow > salmon > orange > red 

Depending on how they're going to be used and what flavors you prefer to highlight, you can harvest them at any stage.  Heat will be present at any stage.  

Slightly conical shaped fruits are 2.5-3" long and glossy.  Plants average 2-3' in height and are one of the first pepper plants to put out fruit in our climate.    

Fave plant color combos: 

• Buena Mulata + Purple Basil 
• Buena Mulata + Showstopper Tomato
• Buena Mulata + Joy’s Midnight Chard

Pepper plants thrive in full sun and well-draining, fertile soil.  Mulch at the base of the plant to retain soil moisture throughout the summer and suppress weeds.  Great for containers! SHU (Scoville Heat Units): 30,000 - 50,000 (hotter than jalapeno but not as hot as say, Sugar Rush Peach Pepper) 

• Days to Harvest: 65 days to black, 80 days to garnet red
• Companion Plants: Basil, Cilantro, Marigolds, Tomatoes, Tulsi 
• Open-Pollinated (OP)
• Plant Spacing: 12 - 24" 

Photo Credit: Jess Page