Capsicum
Capsicum annuum
Family: Solanaceae
What it is like
An annual plant up to 1.5 m high. The leaves can be long and sword shaped or oval to rounded. The leaves can be 12 cm long. The flowers are produced singly, and are yellow or white. They are bell shaped. The flowers are 1.5 cm across and in the axils of leaves. Fruit are about 10 cm long and 6 cm wide and red when fully ripe. They are hollow. They contain many seeds. Kinds with different shaped fruit also occur.
There are 10 Capsicum species. The various Capsicum annuum varieties may be synonyms of Capsicum annuum. It possibly has anti-cancer properties.
Where it is found
A tropical or subtropical plant. Plants grow from sea level up to about 2400 m altitude. They are killed by frost. Soils need to be well drained and fertile. The fruit and plants can rot in the middle of the wettest seasons. They need a temperature above 4°C. A night temperature of 16-18°C and a day temperature of 26-28°C is best. A pH of 5.4-6.9 is suitable. They suit plant hardiness zones 8-12.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Albania, Andorra, Angola, Asia, Australia, Austria, Balkans, Bangladesh, Barbados, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Terr., BIOT, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Caribbean, Caucasus, Central Africa, Central America, Central Asia, China, Colombia, Congo DR, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, FSM, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guam, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Hawaii, Himalayas, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Marquesas, Mediterranean, Mexico, Moldova, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Pohnpei, Romania, Rotuma, Sahel, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Sikkim, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sri Lanka, St Helena, Suriname, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Turkey, Türkiye, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, USA, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe
How it is used for food
The fruit are edible raw or cooked. They are stuffed, roasted, fried, preserved and use as flavouring. The leaves are edible cooked.
It is a cultivated food plant. In Papua New Guinea it is becoming a popular vegetable to eat raw.
Edible parts
Fruit, leaves, herb, spice, vegetable
How it is grown
Plants are grown from seed. Both self and cross pollination occur. It is possible to save your own seed. Seed will keep for 2 to 3 years. Seeds germinate in 6 - 10 days. Plants can be transplanted. Plants need to be about 50 cm apart. About 50% of flowers set fruit.
The first fruit can be harvested after 3-4 months.
Its other names
Local names
Adimaeti, Aji, Aji dulce, Aji rojo, Amashito, Bell peppers, Berbere sibira, Chilar de monte, Chile de color, Epeba, Gochu, Kamalra, Kamulali, Khursani, Laat jiu, Libokeg, Malu miris, Mermit, Milagai, Mirch, Miris, Misewe, Mixamixo, Niba, Ndungu zi mafofolo, Ngayok, Ot, Perec, Pilopilo, Pimentao, Pirpiri, Prik chee faa, Sakay, Sakay fanendy, Sakay tsilandimilahy, Tattasai, Togarashi, Tsilampin, Tsi-tra-ka