Description
Chilli Name: PI 438480
Chilli Species: Eximium
Chilli Origin: Bolivia
Chilli Heat: Hot
PI 438480 Chilli — A Wild Andean Chilli from Bolivia (Capsicum eximium)
PI 438480 is a wild chilli accession from Bolivia, classified as Capsicum eximium, and preserved in the USDA Plant Introduction (PI) collection. It belongs to a group of purple-flowered wild chillies native to the Andean highlands, where they grow in rocky, elevated regions with cooler temperatures and poor soils.
The plant forms a compact, shrubby perennial, well-adapted to marginal environments. Like other C. eximium accessions, it produces striking purple flowers with pale centres and tiny, upright pods that ripen from green to bright red. These small fruits are known for their fiery heat, typically ranging from 30,000 to 60,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), with a clean, wild burn and a slightly fruity aftertaste.
PI 438480 is especially valued for its cold tolerance, natural pest resistance, and ability to thrive in low-fertility soils — traits that make it useful for breeding programmes as well as for collectors and researchers preserving wild Capsicum diversity.
While not commonly used in cooking due to its tiny pod size, this accession is a beautiful and hardy chilli that represents the untamed genetic heritage of Bolivia’s wild chillies — a perfect addition to any grower’s wild Capsicum collection.
