Chilli Species

There are 5 major species of capsicum.

Capsicum Anuum

Although they are called Anuum's they do live longer than just one season, chilli plants even fruit more the 2nd and 3rd year. With roots already developed the potential for huge plants in years 2+3 and large crops is at its highest. The sizes of this specie vary hugely between chilli variety. There are literally thousands of different varieties and all have the capacity of cross-fertilising and creating a new variety even when you're not trying.

This specie is, like all of the pepper family native to South America.

Examples of this type of chilli plant include: Bell pepper, Ancho/Poblano, Aleppo chilli, Cayenne, Guajillo, Jalapeno and New Mexico Red and many others.

The plant is a herbaceous annual, with a thick branched stem. The plant will reach in height about 20-60 inches or more. This type of plant will tolerate most climates but will be more productive in dry, warmer climates. However, frost will kill them instantly. They will tolerate cold weather conditions by becoming dormant and all the life being retained in the roots but if it is a prolonged winter they will die. The plant responds to warmer temperatures by putting out new leaf buds and gradually ‘waking up'.

Capsicum Baccatum

This specie is the most commonly grown type in South America, known generally as Ajis but this can also include anums just to confuse. One thing is plain, nothing is straight forward with peppers. Baccatum can grow very tall, up to 2 metres in some cases with the stem very tree like. Theses plants are good in cold climates but will fruit lots in our warmest months.

The best-known variety is the Aji Amarillo from Peru although there are many different shapes and sizes, heats and colours. I have always enjoyed growing baccatum as they are relatively trouble free and early fruiters with large crops and the possibility of over wintering due to their hardiness. The capsaicin compounds tend to be in a different balance, which makes a refreshing change.

Capsicum Chinense

This specie was named chinense in the eighteenth century as Columbus believed he was in China when he was in fact in South America. The wonders of modern travel!

The hottest of the family of chillis, the chinense family covers a wide spectrum of heat with many mild versions although it is well known for its hotter members. It thrives in hot weather conditions and grows well in the tropics. It has to be understood that they need a longer growing season and seeds need to be germinated early in heated propagators. They will thrive under cover in a greenhouse during the hottest summers but need very high nighttime temperatures to survive outdoors. There are some varieties that we have successfully over wintered including the fatalii and naga, 2 of the hottest members of the family but generally they die off even when kept warm during the winter.

There are many renowned chillis in this branch of the family with the scotch bonnet being perhaps the most famous. Currently the hottest and best-known type of chinense is the world record holder Naga Jolokia/Bhut Jolokia, which is grown in Nagaland near Assam, India. We have been growing the Naga for many years in this country and more recently have taken it over to Spain where we have grown pods commercially that measure hotter than the world records. I believe their potential will be far higher than the current world record and look forward to trying to attain even higher heats. The astounding thing about the naga is its heat is many times hotter than any other member of the family and its origin is still a mystery.

Other examples include: Habanero, Aji Limo and Caribbean Red.

Capsicum Frutescens

These plants are normally quite compact with woodier stems, growing no taller than a metre, but you can get over a hundred pods from one plant, the fruit generally point upwards on the bush. These plants are perennial, so towards the end of their life they will grow less chillis, which also won't be as hot. Many varieties are called bird peppers as the upward pointing pods are just right for birds to pick off and spread far and wide. Its unlikely to be a coincidence!

Examples include: Tabasco and Malagueta. This specie gives you a middle & front of tongue burn.

Capsicum Pubescens

The name pubescens refers to the hairy leaves of the plant, which plants from dry climates develop to collect water from the air.

There is only one example of a capsicum pubescens and that's the Rocoto chilli, also known as Manzano in Mexico, they do however vary in size and colour. The seeds are strangely black in colour, with the flower colour being dark purple. This plant was cultivated in Peru and is the only chilli plant grown domestically with no wild form.

Although they originate in dry climates, they thrive here too. Ours grow 1-2 metres high and become almost vine like.

This specie will burn the sides of your mouth.