Chiltepin Pepper – Desert Horizon Nursery

Chiltepin Pepper

Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum

Water
Moderate water; water deeply when the top 1–2 inches of soil dry. Increase frequency during extreme heat and reduce in winter; avoid soggy soil.
Description
A shrubby wild pepper native to southern Arizona and other parts of the Americas, producing tiny, round, intensely hot peppers that ripen from green to red.
Bloom Time
Deciduous / Evergreen
Special Features
Growth Rate
Growth Habit
Flower Color
Foliage Color
Toxicity
Fruit edible to humans; capsaicin is an irritant to pets, skin, and eyes
Care Instructions

Light: Morning sun with afternoon shade or bright, filtered shade; protect from intense Phoenix afternoon sun.

Water: Moderate water; water deeply when the top 1–2 inches of soil dry. Increase frequency during extreme heat and reduce in winter; avoid soggy soil.

Soil: Well-drained sandy loam enriched with modest amounts of compost; tolerates mildly alkaline soil if drainage is good.

Mature size: Typically 2–4 feet tall and 2–3 feet wide; may grow larger in protected, lightly shaded locations.

Bloom: Small flowers appear from spring through fall when temperatures and moisture are favorable; extreme summer heat may reduce flowering and fruit set.

Evergreen / deciduous: Evergreen in frost-free conditions; may lose leaves or die back during cold weather or drought.

Growth rate: Moderate to fast during warm weather with adequate moisture.