Ornamental pepper ‘Purple Flash’

* Common name: Ornamental pepper ‘Purple Flash’

* Botanical name: Capsicum annuum

* What it is: A new-in-2009 annual hot pepper that has nearly black leaves highlighted with splotches of purple and whitish new growth. Fruits are shiny, round and black – seedy and too hot to eat but attractive in the garden.

* Size: 15 inches tall and wide.

* Where to use: Ideal in a sunny pot but also tough enough and drought-hardy enough to do well in any sunny garden bed, including out front.

* Care: Water daily in a pot and fertilize with balanced flower fertilizer half-strength every week. In ground, water every few days for first few weeks, then cut back to once a week in a drought. A scattering of granular organic flower fertilizer every 6 weeks is helpful. Toss when frost kills in fall after saving dried seeds to start next year.

* Great partner: Hot-pink vinca or pink petunias.