NuMex Mirasol

The word mirasol in Spanish means looking at the sun, and this cultivar is called mirasol because the fruit are erect and point to the sun. ‘NuMex Mirasol’ was developed over six years using a pedigree breeding method that included hybridization and repeated single plant selections. Dr. Bosland and Dr. Max Gonzalez released the cultivar in 1993. It originated from a hybridization between ‘La Blanca’ and ‘Santaka.’ Selection was carried out for upright fruit, fruit size and color, the number of fruits per cluster, and the number of clusters per plant. At maturity, it is a multi-stemmed bush, 23.8 inches tall and 15.3 inches wide. The fruit is green when immature and turns red at maturity. The fruit are hot. Each plant produced an average of 15.7 fruit clusters per plant, with 4 fruits per cluster. Fruits are 2.17 inches long and 0.75 inches wide. The fruits are conic shaped and have two locules. ‘NuMex Mirasol’ is used both as an ornamental on wreaths and a ground powder in cooking.