Piper nigrum (Common Pepper, Black Pepper)
Botanical Information
| Family | Piperaceae |
| Genus | Piper |
| Species | nigrum |
| Category | Tropicals |
| Type | Vine |
| Origin | Native to the Malabar Coast of Southern India and Sri Lanka. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses Disclaimer | Black, white and green peppercorns all come from Piper nigrum and are used as a hot and pungent spice for flavouring food. |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 12 |
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone | Requires cold season protection under glass. |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Zone | H1b |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Height | 3 - 4.5 m , may reach heights of 10 metres. |
| Spread | 3 - 4.5 m |
| Flowering Period | June, July, August |
Description and Growing Information
| General Description | This pepper vine is a tropical plant that is best grown in tropical areas where temperatures typically range throughout the year from 12.7 - 32.2 °C. |
| ID Characteristic | A woody climber and may reach heights of 10 metres. |
| Landscape | Grown as ornamental plants, containers, hanging baskets, and indoors as a houseplant where it will not usually produce fruit. |
| Propagation | Propagation is typically by stem cuttings. |
| Cultivation | The plant requires a long rainy season, fairly high temperatures, and partial shade for best growth, It is best grown in areas with bright indirect sun. It needs a supporting structure like wooden frame or trellis or even a tree. |
| Pests | Root Rot, pepper weevil and pepper flea beetle, and aphids on indoor plants. |
| Notable Specimens | Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando, Florida, United States of America. |
| Bark/Stem Description | A woody stemmed perennial evergreen vine that typically grows to 3 - 4.5 m tall and as wide, but may reach 10 m tall in its native habitat. |
| Leaf Description | Broad shiny dark green to 12 - 15 cm long. |
| Flower Description | Tiny yellowish-green flowers bloom in summer on spikes to 12 cm long that grow outward from the leaf stem joint. |
| Fruit Description | About 5 mm in diameter, yellowish red at maturity. Their odour is penetrating and aromatic, the taste is hot, biting, and very pungent. |
Photographs
Piper nigrum, form, Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando, Florida, United States of America.
Piper nigrum, leaf, Harry P. Leu Gardens, Orlando, Florida, United States of America.