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Brandy

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    Brandy


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Ornamental Peppers

Saturday, October 17, 2009, 11:52 PM EST [General]

 

I keep looking at these ornamental peppers. Does anyone know if they are edible. There are NO labels that say not to, but I see the word ornamental and think that they are just for show. I have a 17 month old toddler who is at that stage where everything has to go to the mouth, so the one I have stays out of reach, but is it safe for us to eat?

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There are others who know more about it than I do but I would not let the child eat the peppers. I do not know about poison but they have too strong chemicals in them that may cause swelling in the throat for a small child. Hope someone who has more knowledge would answer this.
I had a child who could climb to the ceiling on furniture and anything else he could hang on to before he could walk and I had to get rid of all plants that could possibly cause a problem.

Of course poison control center would know. The emergency number for Poison Control Center is 1 800 222 1222 which every family should have available.

Dot
October 18, 2009
11:14 AM EST

I agree with Dot, although these ornamental peppers are normally regarded as "pretty annuals", their fruits are edible, but likely not delicious. Having said that, all peppers (botanical name Capsicum), contain capsaicin, which is what will give your skin, mouth or eyes a burning sensation. I could imagine this burning sensation for a wee child would be MUCH more uncomfortable than for an adult.

So, keep the youngins' away from the plants!

Jamie
October 19, 2009
07:35 PM EST

Thanks guys,
My little one hasn't messed with this plant. But she does like peppers. She's very different. She loves to pick banana peppers and eat them right off of the plant. Not that I encouraged that, but I couldn't stop her. She didn't want to give it up, so I let her try it. She loved it, but I did limit her intake on them. As for the ornamental though, I believe it is going to find a new home.

Brandy
October 20, 2009
01:22 AM EST