Description
Chilli Name: PI 315012
Chilli Species: Eximium
Chilli Origin: Bolivia
Chilli Heat: Hot
PI 315012 Chilli — A Wild Capsicum eximium from Bolivia’s Andean Highlands
PI 315012 is a wild chilli accession from Bolivia, officially classified as Capsicum eximium, and preserved in the USDA Plant Introduction (PI) collection. This species is one of the earliest diverging lineages in the Capsicum family, native to the cool, mountainous regions of the Andes, where it thrives in high-altitude, low-fertility soils.
The plant is a compact, shrubby perennial, highly adapted to tough conditions. Like other C. eximium accessions, it features narrow green leaves and beautiful purple flowers with pale centres — a key characteristic of the species. The pods are tiny, upright, and oval to teardrop-shaped, ripening from green to bright red. Despite their size, the chillies are very hot, typically in the 30,000–60,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU) range.
PI 315012 is valued for its genetic diversity, cold resistance, and potential use in breeding programmes targeting pest resistance and environmental hardiness. While not grown for culinary use, it holds significance for researchers and collectors exploring the wild relatives of cultivated chillies.
In short, PI 315012 is a rugged, fiery wild chilli — a small but powerful representative of Bolivia’s rich Capsicum heritage.
