# Puma

Source: https://shop.homegrowngardenschicago.com/product/puma/
Published: 2024-03-02
Updated: 2026-04-01

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## **PUMA PEPPER (*Capsicum annuum*)**

**Transplant | Mid–Late May | Annual**

Puma peppers are a rare and visually striking variety known for their dramatic color changes and bold garden presence. The slender peppers begin deep purple and gradually mature through shades of peach and orange before finishing bright red, creating a beautiful multicolored display on the plant.

These unique peppers deliver a noticeable heat balanced by a subtle fruity flavor, making them excellent for hot sauces, salsas, and spicy cooking. Their changing colors also make them an ornamental standout in garden beds and containers.

Highly productive and vigorous, Puma pepper plants produce abundant harvests throughout the warm summer growing season.

## Growing Details

**Spice Level:** Hot\
**Scoville Heat Units:** 50,000–100,000 SHU

**Harvest:** Harvest purple for early heat or allow to ripen red for fuller flavor\
**Plant Spacing:** 2 ft\
**Sun:** Full sun\
**Cold Tolerance:** Warm-season crop; plant after danger of frost

## Garden Companions

**Best planted with:**\
Basil, tomatoes, onions, carrots, oregano

**Benefits:**\
Companion plants attract beneficial insects and support healthy garden growth.

**Avoid planting near:**\
Fennel, which may inhibit pepper growth.

## Pro Growing Tips

• Peppers change color multiple times as they mature\
• Harvest regularly to encourage continued fruit production\
• Full sun helps intensify color and flavor\
• Excellent for raised beds, containers, and sunny patios

## Health Highlights

**Vitamin-rich peppers**\
Peppers provide vitamins A and C along with beneficial antioxidants.

**Capsaicin benefits**\
Moderate heat from capsaicin may support metabolism and circulation.

**Antioxidant-rich vegetable**\
Colorful peppers contain beneficial plant compounds that support overall wellness.

*Pre-order now for productive summer transplants ready for planting after the last frost.*