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Mutant Mini Habanero?

Hi All! I'm hoping some of the more experienced growers can help me figure this one out.

I have 2 normal hab plants in a container that I bought as starts from a local nursery. I went to check on them this morning and found several nice hab peppers starting to form along with 1 tiny BRIGHT red tomato looking pepper. I thought maybe it was just a hab pepper that ripened way too fast, but it's definitely red and not orange.

I don't think it matters but I have the plant next to a few ghost and scorpion plants. But even some type of cross-pollination should produce normal hab peppers assuming this is not a hybrid plant, right?

Sorry if the pics are a little out of focus or sideways...

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So I guess in all my excitement I missed the fact that there are 3 total bright red peppers and one is fairly large...

Is it safe to assume this is a hybrid plant? Lol

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I'm not inclined to make assumptions, unless that's the only feasible option, and required to help formulate multiple hypotheses.
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I wouldn't assume that this is a hybrid.  I might put forth the idea that since this was a purchased plant, you didn't get what you thought you got.   I might also suggest that the one pod may be immature. (they can have stunted growth for any number or reasons)
 
Poiethis said:
I thought maybe it was just a hab pepper that ripened way too fast, but it's definitely red and not orange.
 
 
Habaneros come in many different colors, not just orange. Red, orange, yellow, chocolate, white, black, pink, peach and purple habs are all available.
I see three possibilities for what your plant may be:
 
1. It is a red habanero of some kind.
 
2. It is a cross.
 
3. It is some other pepper that was mislabeled as a habanero.
 
 
You may never know with 100% certainty which of these three possibilities it is, let alone what specific variety of pepper it is. In any case, it appears to be a healthy and productive plant. If you like the peppers that it produces, then maybe just appreciate it for that.
 
And yes, you are correct that any cross-pollination by your neighboring ghost and scorpion plants would not affect the characteristics of these pods. Cross-pollination really only matters if you grow out the crossed seeds.
 
I will most definitely eat and enjoy these regardless of what they are. I may even try to overwinter or save some seeds and grow out the (potentially) bastard plant if it's worth it!
 
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