Capsicum annuum L. 'Black Pearl'

The Agricultural Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture announces the release of a new pepper (C. annuum) cultivar named 'Black Pearl'. 'Black Pearl' is a true-breeding F8 selection derived from an initial cross between a segregant identified in a population of the open-pollinated heirloom pepper cultivar Royal Black and a selection designated '86 Arboretum-1' that was introduced by Dr. Thomas Barksdale to the Beltsville Capsicum genebank from a 1986 display garden at the U.S. National Arboretum. 'Black Pearl' is intended for ornamental applications and affords growers a new crop to add to their bedding and landscape plant assortment. The vibrant fruit and foliage colours of this new cultivar add interest to the summer and autumn garden. Other characteristics (including morphology, growth habit and cultural requirements) of 'Black Pearl' are given.