Description
Chilli Name: PI 355817
Chilli Species: Eximium
Chilli Origin: Bolivia
Chilli Heat: Hot
PI 355817 Chilli — A Wild Capsicum eximium from the Highlands of Bolivia
PI 355817 is a wild chilli accession collected in Bolivia, officially classified as Capsicum eximium, and held in the USDA Plant Introduction (PI) collection. This species is native to the cool, high-altitude environments of the Andes, where it grows in rocky, nutrient-poor soils and represents one of the oldest lineages in the Capsicum genus.
The plant forms a small, shrubby perennial, well adapted to harsh mountain climates. Like others in its species, it features narrow green leaves, purple-tinged stems, and purple flowers with pale throats — a hallmark of C. eximium. The pods are tiny, upright, and rounded or teardrop-shaped, ripening from green to a vivid red. Despite their size, they deliver a sharp, wild heat typically in the range of 30,000–60,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU).
PI 355817 is valued primarily as a genetic resource, offering traits such as cold tolerance, disease resistance, and adaptability — useful in breeding programmes or conservation work focused on stress-hardy chilli cultivars. Its compact size and resilience also make it appealing to collectors and growers exploring the diversity of wild Capsicum species.
In summary, PI 355817 is a fiery and hardy wild chilli from the Bolivian Andes — small in stature but packed with evolutionary significance and botanical intrigue.