| Description |
Rocoto, Locoto, or Manzano Peppers, are a pepper species unlike most others. Native to Central and South America, Rocoto are found only in cultivation. The plants have hairy leaves, blue or purple flowers, and produce apple or oval-shaped fruit with thick walls and black seeds. Most other peppers have smooth leaves, yellow or white flowers, and tan seeds. Fruit are 4.5cm by 3cm and red, yellow, or orange. They are red when ripe and have a different flavor and sense of heat than other peppers. Rocoto is also distinct in that it can live for up to 15 years and reach heights of 4m in warmer climates. It can be grown as an annual in cooler regions. Rocoto is more cold-tolerant than other peppers, but still cannot survive frost. Flowers may require hand pollination to set fruit
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