The following is a preliminary list as there are thousands of Capsicum cultivars grown worldwide.
There are four or five major species of cultivated Capsicum, and within those species are several "taxonomic varieties". The species and varieties include many economically important cultivars with different shapes, colours, and flavours that are grown for different purposes. Some confusion has resulted from the legal term "plant variety", which is used interchangeably with "cultivar" (not with "taxonomic variety").
Major species and their taxonomic varieties:
- Capsicum annuum, which includes bell peppers, cayenne, paprika and jalapeños
- Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum
- Capsicum baccatum, which includes ají amarillo, ají limon and criolla sella
- Capsicum baccatum var. pendulum
- Capsicum baccatum var. praetermissum, which includes cumari
- Capsicum chinense, which includes habanero, sometimes included within C. annuum
- Capsicum pubescens, which includes rocoto
Capsicum frutescens is sometimes distinguished as a species separate from C. annuum, while other botanists consider it and C. annuum to be conspecific.
Capsicum annuum[]
Main: Capsicum annuum Capsicum annuum, native to South America, is cultivated worldwide. Its forms are varied, from large to small, sweet to sour, and very hot to bland. Despite being a single species, C. annuum has many forms, with a variety of names, even in the same language. Official names aside, in American English, any variety lacking heat is colloquially known as a sweet pepper, while one that produces capsaicin is colloquially known as a hot pepper or chili pepper. In British English, the sweet varieties are called "peppers" and the hot varieties "chillies", whereas in Australian English, the name "capsicum" is commonly used for bell peppers exclusively and "chilli" is often used to encompass the hotter varieties.
The plant is a perennial subshrub, with a densely branched stem. The plant reaches 20-60 in. Single white flowers develop into the fruit which is green when unripe, changing usually to red, although some varieties may ripen to yellow, brown, or purple. The species are grown in temperate climates as an annual, but they are especially productive in warm and dry climates.
Image | Name | Origin | Heat | Pod Size | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Afghan short pepper | Afghanistan | 5,000 - 30,000 SR | 2-3 in. | Grown in Afghanistan | |
Aleppo | Syria and Turkey | 15,000 SR | Grown in Syria and Turkey and used, in coarsely ground, dried form, as a spice that is also called aleppo pepper | ||
Alma paprika | Hungary | 10,000 SR | A Hungarian pepper often pickled or dried and ground to make spicy paprika | ||
Anaheim | USA | 500 - 2,500 SR | 6 in. | A smooth, narrow fruit first cultivated in northern Mexico and New Mexico, it was later brought to California, from where it has received the most notoriety. Often it is used for chile relleno. When mature, it takes on a red color and is referred to as a colorado. | |
Ancient Sweet | 0 SR | 10-12" long by 1 1/2-2" wide | Medium tall plant produce heavy loads of extra sweet red in color fruits, plant have white flowers & thin flesh. This variety sets the record for the sweetest pepper with 1.5X the sweetness of a ripe red bell pepper. | ||
Banana | 0 - 500 SR | 6 in. | Often it is pickled and used as an ingredient in sandwiches; its piquancy is not very hot. Its shape and color resemble a banana. | ||
Bell | 0 SR | 6 in. | This cultivar group of large rectangular fruit is without noticeable heat. The ripe fruit can be red, yellow, green, orange, white, purple, blue, or brown depending on the specific cultivar. | ||
Bird's eye (Thai) | Southeast Asia | 50,000 - 150,000 SR | 1.5 in | A Southeast Asian cultivar known by many local names, but generally it is called Thai chili in the USA. It has thin fruit with a pointed tip. | |
Cascabel | Mexico | 3,000 SR | 1 in. | The small, round fruit are usually dried, and have a distinct, nutty flavor. The name, Spanish for "rattle" or "jingle bell", derives from the rattling noise made by the seeds inside the dried pod. | |
Cayenne (red) | French Guiana | 30,000 - 50,000 SR | 5 in. | This long, thin fruit was transported by the Portuguese to China and India, where it is used widely. Often it is dried and ground into powder. | |
Cherry | 3,500 SR | 1 in. | Named for the fruit it resembles, this cultivar's fruit is small, red, and round. It is typically used fresh, or pickled and jarred, and is often used to stuff green olives. It is also called pimento. | ||
Chilaca | 1,000 - 2,000 SR | 6 in. | Popular in Mexican cuisine, it is almost always encountered dried; in this state, it is referred to as a pasilla. The pasilla has a dark brown color and a smoky flavor. | ||
Chiltepin | 50,000 - 100,000 SR | 2 in. | This small, hot fruit is often eaten by birds. The plant is thought to be the ancestor of the cultivated C. annuum peppers. Evidence indicates it has been consumed by humans as far back as 7,500 BC. | ||
Chinese five-color | 5,000 - 30,000 SR | 1.5 in. | The fruit starts out purple, then changes to white, yellow, orange, and red. Similar to Bolivian rainbow pepper and 'NuMex Twilight' pepper, it is also called Chinese multicolor pepper. | ||
Cowhorn | 0-500 SR | 8 in | Plant produces good yields of 8" long sweet pepper. Pepper are very sweet and have excellent flavor! Peppers turn from green to red when mature. One of the largest non-bell stuffing peppers around | ||
Cubanelle | 1 - 1,000 SR | 5 in. | Medium in thickness, the tapered fruit is green when unripe, but turns red when mature. Often it is fried in Italian cooking. | ||
De árbol | Mexico | 15,000 - 30,000 SR | 3 in. | This slender-fruited cultivar is grown primarily in Mexico, its name is Spanish for "from a tree". | |
Elephant Trunk | 5,000 - 10,000 SR | 6" to 10" long by 1" wide | Plant produces good yields of 6" to 10" long by 1" wide tapered and wrinkled hot peppers. Pepper resemble an elephant's trunk. They are mild and turn from green to red when mature. Plant has green stems, green leaves, and white flowers. Can be used green or red. A variety from India. Plant Height: 50" tall | ||
Fresno | 2,500-10,000 SR | 3.5 in. | Similar to the jalapeño, but with thinner walls, it is generally used ripe, and has a higher vitamin content. Frequently it is used in ceviche, and is one of the most frequently used chilis in salsa. | ||
Guajillo | Mexico | 2,500 - 5,000 SR | Most often used in dried form to make a red sauce used for tamales | ||
Guntur Sannam | 35,000 - 40,000 SR | It is well known as a commercial crop used as a condiment, culinary supplement, or vegetable. | |||
Hungarian wax | 2,500 - 8,000 SR | This wide, medium-hot variety is used in Hungarian cuisine, frequently pickled. Also it is commonly dried, ground, and presented as "paprika". | |||
Italian sweet pepper | Italy | Used in Spanish cuisine | |||
Jalapeño | Mexico | 2,500 - 8,000 SR | 3.5 in. | Very popular, especially in the United States, it is often pickled or canned. A smoke-dried ripe jalapeño is referred to as a chipotle. | |
Shishito | Japan | ||||
Mirasol | Mexico | ||||
Macho | Mexico | ||||
Medusa | It is a sweet, ornamental chili pepper which grows upright and has brightly coloured fruit. | ||||
Mulato | Mexico | 2,500 - 3,000 SR | 4 in. | Grown in Mexico, the mulato is a mild to medium chili pepper,
closely related to the poblano (ancho), and usually sold dried. | |
New Mexico | USA | 4,500 - 5,000 SR | A cultivar of Anaheim peppers, it is grown in New Mexico. Typically, it has a much higher heat than those grown in California, or elsewhere. | ||
Peter pepper | USA and Mexico | 5,000 - 30,000 SR | 3-4 in. | Rare, heirloom-type hot pepper | |
Peperoncini | Italy | 100 - 500 SR | 3 in. | Sweet-tasting and mild, used extensively in Italian and Greek cuisine, very frequently pickled | |
Pequin pepper | USA and Mexico | 100,000 - 140,000 SR | Also spelled piquín | ||
Poblano | Mexico | 1,000 - 2,000 SR | 5 in. | The large, heart-shaped, dark green fruit is extremely popular in Mexico, often to make chile relleno. When dried, it is referred to as an ancho or mulato. | |
Puya or pulla | 5,000 SR | Capsicum annuum L., hot, medium-size, green to red, and tapered | |||
Prik Kee Nu | Thailand | 50,000 - 100,000 SR | 1.3 in. | One of many cultivars called Thai pepper, it has very short fruit, and is very hot. Literal meaning: Mouse/rat dropping chili | |
Santa Fe Grande | The Santa Fe Grande is a very prolific variety used in the Southwestern United States. The conical, blunt fruits ripen from greenish-yellow, to orange-yellow to red. The peppers grow upright on 24-in plants. Santa Fe Grande has a slightly sweet taste and is fairly mild in pungency. | ||||
Serrano | Mexico | 10,000 - 23,000 SR | 2 in. | The thin, tapered fruit turns red when mature. Due to its thin skin, it does not need to be peeled before use. | |
Sport pepper | United States | 300 - 500 SR | 1.5 in. | Superficially resembling both Tabasco and serrano peppers, the sport pepper is its own distinct cultivar that is much milder than either of those. It is commonly pickled and used in Southern cooking and on Chicago-style hot dogs. | |
Super Chili | 40,000 - 50,000 SR | Long, thin, and red | |||
Tien Tsin | China | 50,000-75,000 SR | Grown and used in China | ||
Siling mahaba | Philippines | A chili pepper grown in the Philippines, and a popular ingredient in Filipino Cuisine |
Capsicum baccatum[]
- Main article: Capsicum baccatum
These have a distinctive, fruity flavor, and are commonly ground into colorful powders for use in cooking, each identified by its color.
Name | Heat | Length | Description | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ají amarillo | 30,000 - 50,000 SR | 3 in. | An aromatic, orange-coloured fruit, it is most popular in Peru, often consumed raw in salsas and salads. | |
Bishop's Crown | A mild, oddly shaped fruit, it ripens to an orange or red. It is also known as monk's cap, among other names. | |||
Lemon drop | 30,000 - 50,000 SR | |||
Piquanté | 1,000 - 2,000 SR | 1 in. | Mild, sweet and tangy flavour, usable in many dishes | |
Brazilian starfish | A hot, red baccatum fruit known for its unusual star shape | |||
Wild baccatum | A small, round, wild hot pepper, C. baccatum var. baccatum, that turns from green to red |
Capsicum chinense[]
Main: Capsicum chinense
Capsicum chinense or "Chinese capsicum" is a misnomer since all Capsicum species originated in the New World. Nikolaus Joseph von Jacquin (1727-1817), a Dutch botanist, named the species in that way in 1776 because he believed they originated in China. Most of the peppers of this species have a distinctive flavor and are similar in flavor to each other.Template:Citation needed
Name | Heat | Length | Description | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Adjuma | 100,000-500,000 SR | Very hot, originally cultivated in Suriname | ||
Ají dulce | 0 - 50 SR | |||
Datil | 100,000 to 300,000 SR | A very hot chili; primarily grown in Florida | ||
Carolina Reaper | 1,569,300 to 2,2 million SR | extremely hot pepper, currently the Guinness book of world records holder as of 2014 | ||
Fatalii | 125,000-325,000 SR | 2.4 in. | Native to central and southern Africa, it is very similar in appearance to and often confused with the devil's tongue habanero. | |
Madame Jeanette | 100,000-350,000 SR | Originally cultivated in Suriname | ||
Habanero | 100,000 - 350,000 SR | 2 in. | Once considered to be the hottest chili pepper, the habanero has been surpassed by other hot varieties, but it is nonetheless hotter than most commonly available cultivars. The habanero has a subtle, fruity flavour and a floral aroma. It is closely related to many of the other very hot peppers, including the bhut jolokia from India, and the Scotch bonnet, Trinidad Scorpion Butch T, and Trinidad Moruga Scorpion peppers from the Caribbean. Disseminated to China over 500 years ago by Spanish and Portuguese explorers, it became so much a part of Chinese cuisine, botanists who found it in China thought it was native to the area and thus named this species Capsicum chinense, based on the habaneros from China. | |
Hainan yellow lantern chili | 300,000 SR | 5 cm. (2.0 in) x 3.12 cm (approx.) | Also known as the yellow emperor chili, it grows only in Hainan, China. | |
Bhut Jolokia | up to 1,500,000 SR | 2.4 in. | This cultivar originated in Northeast India, and was once confirmed by Guinness World Records to be the hottest pepper. It is an interspecific hybrid, largely C. chinense with some C. frutescens genes. It is also known as naga jolokia and Ghost Pepper. | |
Scotch bonnet | 150,000 - 325,000 SR | 5 cm (2 in) | Named because of its resemblance to a Tam o' Shanter, this fruit is closely related to the habanero and is similarly hot. Due to its heat and distinct flavour, it is often used in Caribbean cuisine. | |
Trinidad Scorpion Butch T | up to 1,400,000 | Former world-record hottest chili. | ||
Trinidad Moruga Scorpion | up to 2,000,000 | former World-record holder for hottest chili as of 2012 | ||
Mora chili | A small chili about 5 in long and 2 in wide, and purple, it is always used dry. It is extremely spicy, and is used as a substitute for chipotle when more powerful spice is needed. | |||
Morita chili | Morita chili is smaller than the mora chili. |
Capsicum pubescens[]
Main: Capsicum pubescens
Capsicum pubescens is among the oldest of domesticated peppers, and was grown as long as 5000 years ago.Template:Citation needed It is probably related to undomesticated plants that still grow in South America (C. cardenasii, C. eximium, and others).
Name | Heat | Length | Description | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Rocoto | 50,000 - 250,000 SR | 2.5 in. | A round or square-shaped fruit with black seeds, it is popular in Latin America, particularly in Bolivia and Perú, in salsas, raw, and for stuffing. In Bolivia, it is commonly known as locoto and is used for the popular llajwa. |
Capsicum frutescens[]
Main: Capsicum frutescens
Sometimes considered to be the same species as C. annuum
Name | Heat | Length | Description | |
---|---|---|---|---|
African birdseye | 50,000-175,000 SR | 1 in. | Also known as piri piri, it is common in Portuguese, Mozambican, and Angolan cuisines. | |
Tabasco | 30,000-50,000 SR | 1.5 in. | A cayenne type, it is long, thin and red. Originally from the Mexican state of Tabasco, it is now grown in the United States, especially in Louisiana, for 150 to 200 years. Large amounts of this fruit are now grown in Latin America (from seeds produced in Louisiana) by McIlhenny Company for the sauce of the same name. It is the basis for Louisiana hot sauce and Tabasco Brand sauce, a type of aged and concentrated pepper sauce. | |
Blanco chili | ||||
Bolivian rainbow | 30,000-50,000 SR | 0.5 in. | A chilipepper that changes in colour from purple to yellow, orange and then red when ripe. | |
Siling labuyo | 80,000-100,000 SR | 1 in. | A chili pepper native to the Philippines. |
See also[]
Further reading[]
- G6CSY chile database: Used as source for information on various cultivars in this article.
- chillisgalore database: More can be found here.
- NMSU Chile Pepper Institute list of chile cultivars