Capsicum frutescens aka Chilli

Capsicum frutescens is a hot pepper in the nightshade family. People call it bird pepper, tabasco pepper, and spur pepper. Kew gives its native range as southern Mexico through tropical America. Other sources give a smaller range or express doubt. People grow it in warm regions for food and medicine. It also grows by roads, at forest edges, and in old fields.

This shrub grows upright and branches, with wood at its stem bases. Reports give garden heights of 1.6–6 feet [0.5–1.8 metres]. Some accounts from the tropics report heights of 6.6 feet [2 metres]. Its spread ranges from 1.5–3.3 feet [0.45–1 metre]. It is a short-lived perennial, so it lives for several years. Growers often treat it as an annual, grown for one year. Its stems bend in a zigzag and have angular sections. Its dark green leaves have smooth edges. Their shapes are pointed or oval. They reach about 0.7 feet [0.2 metres] long.

Small flowers grow in groups of two to four. They grow where leaves meet stems or along branches. Their petals range from white to pale green. NC State gives the bloom time as August to September. Insects pollinate the flowers by moving pollen. The plants can also use their own pollen. The fruits stand upright and are berries. They are often about 0.07 feet [0.02 metres] long. They turn yellow, then orange, then red. Birds eat the fruits without harm from their heat.

Give this pepper full sun and a warm, sheltered site. It suits pots and beds that grow food. It also suits greenhouses and sunny windowsills inside the home. Use rich sandy or loamy soil that drains well. Keep the soil moist, as plants cannot cope with drought. Acid soil suits it, though it accepts other pH levels. Frost harms the plant. Move it outside once the risk of frost has passed. RHS rates it H1C; NC State lists USDA zones 9–11. Sow seeds in late winter or early spring. Once fruit starts to form, feed with a liquid fertiliser high in potassium.

Use the hot fruits fresh, cooked, or dried to season food. Sources disagree on whether people can eat the leaves. NC State says to eat only the fruits. Capsaicin from the fruit also has uses in creams for pain relief. Sap can blister skin, and the plant can irritate eyes. RHS warns that it can irritate both people and pets. Wear gloves when you handle it. Aphids, mites, and whiteflies may cause damage. Slugs and snails may cause damage too. Wet or humid conditions can favour moulds and soft rot. They can also favour anthracnose.