Description
Chilli Name: PI 439429
Chilli Species: Eximium
Chilli Origin: Bolivia
Chilli Heat: Hot
PI 439429 Chilli — A Wild Capsicum eximium from the Andean Highlands of Bolivia
PI 439429 is a wild chilli accession collected in Bolivia, classified as Capsicum eximium, and conserved in the USDA Plant Introduction (PI) collection. This species is native to the high-altitude regions of the Andes, where it thrives in harsh, rocky environments, and represents one of the most ancient and genetically distinct branches of the Capsicum family.
The plant is a compact, shrubby perennial, featuring narrow green leaves, purplish stems, and the characteristic purple flowers with pale or white centres seen across C. eximium accessions. The fruits are tiny, upright, and round to oval-shaped, ripening from green to bright red. Though small, they are intensely hot, usually in the range of 30,000 to 60,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU).
PI 439429 is particularly valued for its cold resistance, pest and disease resilience, and potential in chilli breeding programmes, especially for improving hardiness in cultivated varieties. It is also a key part of preserving the wild genetic diversity of Capsicum and is of interest to both researchers and collectors.
In summary, PI 439429 offers a fiery glimpse into the wild ancestry of modern chillies — a tough, beautiful little plant shaped by the extremes of Bolivia’s highland ecosystems.
