Rocoto, Tree pepper
Capsicum pubescens

Family: Solanaceae

What it is like

A herb or climbing shrub. It grows 50-70 cm high but can be 3 m high. The stems have purple nodes. The leaves are alternate and rough and oval. The leaves are hairy. The flowers occur singly in the axils of leaves. They have 6 lobes and are blue or purple. The fruit is a berry. The fruit are 3-5 cm long by 2-3 cm wide. They can be yellow or red. They can vary in shape, size and pungency. The seeds are black. There are several named cultivated varieties.

There are 10 Capsicum species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. In South America it grows at 1500-3300 m altitude. In Indonesia it is cultivated above 1400 m altitude. It does not set fruit well in some parts of the tropics. It suits hardiness zones 10-12.

Countries/locations it is found in

Andes, Asia, Australia, Andes, Bolivia, Central America, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Mexico, North America, Peru, SE Asia, South America, Venezuela

How it is used for food

The fruit are used as a spice. They are also used as a vegetable. The seeds are removed and then stuffed with cheese or sausage and baked.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable.

Edible parts

Fruit, spice, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Apple chilli, Caballo, Cabe bendot, Cabe Dieng, Cabe gondol, Canario, Chile marongo, Horse chili, Locoto, Lokoto, Manzana, Rocot-uchu, Rocoto, Rocut-uchu

Synonyms

Capsicum violaceum Kunth; Capsicum guatemalense Bitter;