2018 AAS Flower Winner
Onyx Red is one of those stunning double-take plants that steal the show! This breeding work has resulted in an unprecedented compact, well-branched ornamental pepper adorned with eye-catching dark black foliage. The contrast between the diminutive black foliage and tons of shiny red fruits is striking and makes a bold statement in the garden. Plants are vigorous, continually growing but retain their neat, compact habit, making Onyx Red a wonderful plant for beds, borders, containers and dramatic mass plantings.
Naturally compact plants are perfect for a potted plant program as well as for an annual bedding plan where earliness and retail readiness are important factors.
Cover the seed lightly with vermiculite after sowing. Germination takes 5 to 7 days and plug stage needs 4-5 weeks under 68 to 77℉(20 to 25℃). Enjoy black foliage with no fruit after 8 -12 weeks from sowing. With mature red fruits, it takes more 4-6 weeks. Overall, it performs best under high light as much as possible and warm temperatures. Commercial Grower Culture Info.
- “Red and black fruit exhibit beautifully within extremely black foliage.”
- “Real WOW power in the landscape.”
- “Huge hit with trial garden visitors.”
- “This is an awesome plant.”
- “The appearance of the entire plant lends itself to an “all-season” interest instead of just when the peppers started to show.”
- “Held a nice, petite form with gorgeous fine foliage in the garden.”
AAS Display Garden- River Valley Master Gardeners –
The black foliage is striking in mixed containers, even before the fruit arrives mid-summer in Zone 6a (planted from seed).
Jeni Cullen, Eden Park, Cincinnati, OH –
Very compact plant with a tidy, rounded habit. I used it as a border plant with bright, yellow plants behind for contrast. Bright red fruit is really an attention getter.