VegetablePepper
Takanotsume Pepper
Takanotsume Pepper is a Japanese heirloom hot pepper that earns its nickname 'Hawk Claw' from the distinctive talon-like shape of its small, upright-growing fruits. This open-pollinated Capsicum annuum delivers medium heat between 10,000 to 30,000 Scoville Heat Units, making it hot enough to command respect but not so intense it overwhelms. Growing 24 to 36 inches tall, it reaches harvest in just 60 to 69 days from transplant and thrives across hardiness zones 4 to 13, adapting to gardens, containers, raised beds, and even greenhouses.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
4-13
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Organic Matter
Growth Stats
36 in
Height
TypeUpright
Spacing
18
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
4-13
Size
36in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
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Highlights
The hawk claw shape is instantly recognizable on the plant, with fruits pointing upward and stretching 1.5 to 2.5 inches long in a form that looks almost like a bird's talon mid-strike. This Japanese specialty pepper is genuinely suited to container growing, making it as much a visual accent on a patio as a productive food plant. At 10,000 to 30,000 Scovilles, the heat arrives with character rather than pure burn, and the rapid harvest window of 60 to 69 days means you can plant it late spring and still pull peppers before the first frost.
Common Uses
Takanotsume Peppers work well in any application where you want concentrated heat in a small package. The upward-pointing fruits and talon shape make them visually striking fresh, and their medium heat suits them to Asian stir-fries, hot sauces, and infused oils where you want flavor without obliterating palate. The compact plant size and prolific production in containers mean gardeners can keep a steady supply on a windowsill or patio for harvesting as needed.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start Takanotsume seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in warm soil between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, keeping the soil consistently moist until germination occurs. Provide bright light once seedlings emerge.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant seedlings outdoors after all danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed to at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit, typically 4 to 6 weeks after sowing. Space plants 18 inches apart in rows 36 inches apart. Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days before final transplanting.
Harvesting
Harvest peppers 60 to 69 days after transplanting. Pick fruits when they reach 1.5 to 2.5 inches long; they can be harvested at any stage of color development from green to red, depending on your heat preference and intended use. Twist or cut fruits gently from the stem to avoid damaging the plant, which will continue producing through the season if harvested regularly.
Pruning
Pinch off the first flowers that appear within the first few weeks after transplanting to direct energy into root and branch development rather than immediate fruiting. Beyond this early pinching, the upright growth habit requires minimal pruning; simply remove any dead or diseased growth as it appears.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Capsicum annuum
Family
Solanaceae
Genus
Capsicum
Growth Habit
Upright
Native Status
L48 (NI)HI (I)PR (I)VI (I)
History & Origin
“Takanotsume Pepper originates from Japan, where it developed as a cultivated variety within the Capsicum annuum species. As an open-pollinated, heirloom pepper, it represents generations of seed-saving by Japanese gardeners who selected and preserved the hawk claw form. The variety has traveled beyond its origins to reach gardeners worldwide through seed companies, maintaining its distinctive character and cultural identity as a living link to Japanese horticultural tradition.”