Description
Chilli Name: PI 435916
Chilli Species: Eximium
Chilli Origin: Bolivia
Chilli Heat: Hot
PI 435916 Chilli — A Wild Capsicum eximium from Bolivia’s Andean Highlands
PI 435916 is a wild chilli accession collected in Bolivia, classified as Capsicum eximium, and held in the USDA Plant Introduction (PI) collection. Native to the high-altitude Andean regions, this species is one of the most ancient branches of the Capsicum genus, known for its rugged adaptability and evolutionary significance.
The plant grows as a compact, shrubby perennial, thriving in cool climates and rocky soils. It features narrow green leaves, purplish stems, and the classic eximium trait — purple flowers with pale or white throats. Its fruits are tiny, upright, and round to oval, maturing from green to bright red. Despite their small size, the pods are very hot, typically registering 30,000 to 60,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), with a sharp, clean burn and faint wild fruit notes.
PI 435916 is prized for its cold tolerance, pest and disease resistance, and suitability for use in chilli breeding programmes targeting hardier cultivated varieties. It also plays a role in genetic conservation efforts, offering a glimpse into the wild ancestry of modern chillies.
In short, PI 435916 is a fiery, tough, and beautifully wild chilli from the Bolivian highlands — a key piece of the Capsicum evolutionary puzzle.
