Black Cobra

Black Cobra is a dark ornamental and culinary chilli commonly linked to the southern United States, especially Louisiana. It is also widely known as “Goat’s Weed”. The reason for that name is inconsistent. Some growers claim goats were attracted to the plant, while others say goats avoided it. There is no solid documented proof for either story.

The plant typically grows to about 90.0 to 120.0 cm tall. It has dark green foliage that can show purple tones, especially in strong sun. Stems may also darken with maturity.

Pods grow upright. They are slim and slightly curved, usually around 5.0 to 8.0 cm long and about 1.0 to 1.5 cm wide. Immature pods are deep purple to near black. As they ripen, they turn red. It is common to see multiple colour stages on the plant at once.

Heat is usually reported between 30,000 and 50,000 SHU. Some sellers list higher numbers, but there is no reliable lab data widely published. Because of this, 40,000 SHU is a reasonable mid-range figure based on repeated grower reports.

Culturally, it is often grown as both an edible and ornamental plant due to its dark pods and upright growth. It has been distributed through seed exchanges and small seed companies for decades. There is no clear breeder recorded. It appears to be an older regional variety that spread through informal networks rather than formal release.

There is occasional confusion between Black Cobra and other dark ornamental annuum types. However, Black Cobra is generally identified by its slender upright pods and red mature colour.

Some sources claim it has African origins due to the “Goat’s Weed” name and folklore, but there is no documented evidence supporting an African landrace origin. Most reliable references trace its known cultivation history to the southern United States.