African Queen is a family heirloom preserved by Jack Maderis of North Carolina. Its history is recounted by Amy Goldman Fowler, who received seeds from collector John Coykendall of the Smoky Mountains in eastern Tennessee. Coykendall received the plants from Maderis in 1986 and saved their seeds.
The fruits are large, deep pink, and very tasty. They reach maturity about 80 days after planting. The tall plants require staking or tying up.
