CategoriesChillies and Capsicum

Chillies!

Chillies are a personal favourite of mine. With the differences in cultivars among the five domesticated species of Capsicum, there's shapes, colours, flavours and heat-levels to suit anyone! Great in food, good for you, and easy to grow, chillies make a rewarding herb/spice to keep in your garden.

Chillies and Peppers - Capsicum Selection

PhotographSpeciesDescriptionScoville Heat ScaleFruit Shape & SizeFruit Colour
Cayenne
Cayenne
Cayenne
Capsicum annuumPrized not only for its great taste and pungency, but also for its health benefits, Cayenne is also often used dried as a powder.30 000 - 50 000 SHUhot
HOT
Long and thin. 12cmCayenne is a chilli cultivar that is as much prized for its health benefits, as it is for its use in various cuisine. Matures from green to bright red.
Jalapeno
Jalapeno
Jalapeno
Capsicum annuumWith a mild to medium pungency, and good sized fruit, Jalapeño chillies are a firm favourite with many. They can be eaten fresh, pickled, smoked (known as chipotles), or stuffed (poppers).
2 500 - 8 000 SHUmedium
MILD
Pods are broad and cone shaped. 8cm
Matures from green to bright red. Usually used when green.
Thai / Birds Eye
Thai
Thai
Capsicum annuumThai chillies are also known as Bird’s Eye chillies and are very hot and pungent. Fruit can be used at any ripeness. 50 000 - 100 000 SHU
hot
HOT
Small thin pods with pointed tips. 4cmThe small fruit ripen from green (through yellow and orange) to bright red.
Loco
Loco
Loco
Capsicum annuumLoco is a compact multi-branching bush type chilli with many pungent short and small upright bright purple fruits that ripen to red. Attractive patio plant. Flowers are also purple or purple tinged rather than white.10 000 - 24 000 SHUmildhot MILD > HOTSmall and round. 2cmMatures from almost black through purple to red.
ChenzoChenzoCapsicum frutescensAttractive black fruit, and a compact growth habit makes this chilli a good patio or balcony specimen. Fruit are of medium to hot pungency and tasty.
45 000 SHUhot HOTTapered pods measure about 7cm Brilliant black maturing to purple, then green and finally red.
Yellow Banana Pepper
Yellow Banana
Yellow Banana
Capsicum annuumThese very mild sweet peppers are also known as wax peppers, and are typically eaten when bright yellow. Not to be confused with Hungarian wax peppers (hotter) or Pepperoncini.
0 - 500 SHU
medium SWEET > MILD15cm fruit resemble a bananaLight to bright yellow
Aji (yellow)AjiCapsicum baccatumRipening from green to a bright yellow colour, with a fruity taste and hot pungency, the yellow aji pepper is perfect for hot sauces.
30 000 - 50 000 SHU
hot HOT2.5-7cm Thin and tapered podsYellow
Padrón
Padron
Padron
Capsicum annuumCustomarily fried in oil and served as tapas, the Padrón pepper is generally quite mild, but has a peculiarity that one in a few may be super hot! 2 500 - 5 000 SHU
mild MILD5cm Elongated conic shape.Bright green or yellow-green.
Bishop's Crown
Bishop's Crown
Bishop's Crown
Capsicum baccatumThe Bishop’s Crown or Christmas Bell Pepper is a hot pepper with unusual shaped fruit resembling a joker’s hat. Ripening from green to bright red, they are easy to grow and prolific.
10 000 - 30 000 SHU
mildhot MILD > HOTBell/crown-shaped. 6cmGreen to bright red.
Cherry Bomb
Cherry Bomb
Cherry Bomb
Capsicum annuumOn a par with a very mild Jalapeño in terms of heat, these sweet-with-a-bite hybrid peppers are perfect for stuffing, pickling, or roasting. Small and round like little red cherries.
5 000medium MILDSmall and round.Bright red.
7-Pot7 Pot RedCapsicum chinenseRelated to the Trinidad Scorpion Pepper (2nd hottest on record), the 7-pot peppers are extremely hot. The name implies one chilli has enough spice to make 7 pots of hot chilli stew. Fruity.
950 000 - 1 000 000 SHUexceptionally-hot EXCEPTIONALLY HOTRound, plump and wrinkled (dimply), sometimes with a "sting-like" pointed end.Bright red.
Fatalii
Fatalii
Fatalii
Capsicum chinenseFatalii has a fruity citrus
flavour and a searing heat. Delicious in hot sauces, especially if paired with fruit. Mostly used in sauces, salsa, marinades and other processed liquids.
300 000 + SHUvery-hot VERY HOTConical with deep dimples and "wrinkles" almost like an elongated habaneroYellow
Tabasco
Tabasco
Tabasco
Capsicum frutescensBushy plants with upright growing fruit maturing from green through orange to bright red. Native to the Tabasco province in Mexico, these juicy chillies are for hot sauces and vinegars.
30 000 - 50 000 SHUhot HOT4cm long tapering podsRipening from green through yellow and orange to red.
Basket of Fire
Basket Of Fire
Basket Of Fire
Capsicum frutescensThis compact & bushy chilli is family of Tabasco peppers and has masses of upward-facing fruit ripening from green through pale yellow, orange to bright red— like little flames.
50 000 - 80 000 SHUhot HOT4cm long tapering podsRipening from green through yellow and orange to red.
Jingle Bells
Jingle Bells
Jingle Bells
Capsicum annuumJingle Bells are sweet mini bell-peppers with fruit resembling Christmas light bulbs. Delicious fresh in salads, stuffed with feta cheese, or pickled.
0 SHUsweet SWEETSmall round, bell pepper shapedGreen, red, orange and yellow.
Peter Pecker aka Chilli Willy
Peter Pecker Pepper
Peter Pecker Pepper
Capsicum annuumThis heirloom is grown for its very unique shape! Quite piquant, it is mostly pickled. Definitely one that will be talked about if you grow it!
5 000 - 30 000 SHU
mildhot MILD > HOT8-10cm phallic shapedGreen and red
Bull's (Cow's) Horn
aka Corno di Torro
Corno di Torro
Corno di Torro
Capsicum annuumProducing large, oblong and tapered fruit, like a cow or bull’s horn, the Corno di Torro Pepper is sweet and delicious. Eat fresh or charred under the grill. May be mildly spicy.
0 - 500 SHU
medium SWEET > MILDLarge, oblong and tapered, 20cmRed
Habanero - Flyer
Habanero
Habanero
Capsicum chinenseThis habanero is fragrant and very hot. Resembling somewhat a flying saucer, they are great to use in hot sauces.
300 000 + SHU
very-hot VERY HOTRounded with square tip rings. Red
Habanero - Lemon
Habanero Lemon
Habanero Lemon
Capsicum chinenseFruity and sweet with a very hot pungency, this is a beautiful chilli which does well in pots and can be grown for use and as an ornamental.300 000 + SHU
very-hot VERY HOTLantern shaped 5cmYellow
Habanero - Gambia Orange
Habanero Gambia
Habanero Gambia
Capsicum chinenseHabanero Gambia is a very pungent variety, which forms enormous fruits with an excellent fruity aroma. The fruits ripen from yellow and are usually strongly ribbed and wrinkled.300 000 + SHU
very-hot VERY HOTOblong and Lantern shaped.Deep yellow to bright orange.
Rocoto
Rocoto
Rocoto
Capsicum pubescensThese large round apple-shaped chillies (some varieties are more oblong) are also known as
Manzano peppers, and are charecterized by their black seeds and hairy leaves. Very hot.
30 000 - 100 000 SHU
hotveryhot HOT > VERY HOTLarge round and apple shaped (sometimes more oblong)Red
Trinidad Moruga Scorpian
Trinidad Moruga Scorpian
Trinidad Moruga Scorpian
Capsicum chinenseThe previous record holder of the World's Hottest Chilli, the Trinidad Moruga Scorpian is said to have a sweet and fruity taste (if you can get past the searing heat....)1 200 000 + SHUexceptionally-hot
EXCEPTIONALLY HOT
Rounded lantern shaped and wrinkled.Red
Salad Bell Pepper Mix
Saladmix
Saladmix
Capsicum annuumVariety of shapes and sizes of sweet bell peppers, great for use fresh in salads or lunchboxes.0 SHU
sweetSWEETVariousGreen, red, orange, yellow, purple.
Bell Pepper -
Tequila
Tequila
Tequila
Capsicum annuum Large purple bell peppers ripen to red if left on the plant. Gorgeous coloured fruit makes this a sought after hybrid.0 SHUsweetSWEETBell pepperPurple to red.
A list of the capsicums - hot chilli and sweet peppers - we will be growing at MeadowSweet this season (2016).

 

4 Comments

  1. Hi there! I love blistered, salted Padron peppers! Any idea where I can find seeds/plants in New Zealand?

    1. Hey Rohan, I have some seeds, but only about 3 plants (for myself!). I’ll get back into propagating for sale after this first season in my new home – needing to get myself organised with regards to the new climate and the later and shorter season. 🙂 You’re welcome to message me (minette@meadowsweet.co.nz) and I can see about getting a few seeds off to you.

  2. To whom this may concern

    It is mention on the catalog that there are ove 150 pepper varieties and over 250 varieties of tomatoes where is the list of all these variesties.

    Thanks mathew

    1. Hi Mathew, while I do keep that many tomato and pepper varieties in seeds for my own propagation, and to propagate for selling plants, I only currently have seed available through http://sentinelsgroup.co.nz)

      I am only propagating a small number of select plants for sale from my home garden business in Rangiora this season (Summer 2020/2021).

      Unfortunately last season, my first in my acre homestead, I suffered quite badly with all my tomatoes and peppers that I had grown for myself and for selling dying off because of herbicide contamination in the veggie mix soil that I bought at a landscape place… (See article in NZ Orgnaics magazine the March issue I think, or read here: http://meadowsweet.co.nz/2019/11/08/portraits-of-plants-damaged-from-herbicides-in-compost-soil-manure-mix/)

      I am cautious this year with new soil from a new supplier and so far it looks fantastic. But as I didn’t grow any tomatoes and peppers last year, my seed sales selection is limited only to those that I had available through Sentinels Group this year. I am however hoping to increase this to a much larger selection at the end of this season again.

      For an idea of the tomatoes I have grown (and should have again some of this available again for purchase after this growing season):
      https://meadowsweet.co.nz/2016/08/25/terrific-tomatoes/

      For an idea of the chillies I have grown (and should have again some of this available again for purchase after this growing season):
      https://meadowsweet.co.nz/2016/09/24/chillies/

      I’ll endeavor to put out a list of all my varieties at some point, although I won’t propagate all the varieties each year (I have limited space and manpower as MeadowSweet is just myself :)).

      Trust this helps a bit. If there’s a specific cultivar you are looking for, you are welcome to ask though 🙂

      Thanks.

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