Description
Chilli Name: PI 439448
Chilli Species: Eximium
Chilli Origin: Bolivia
Chilli Heat: Hot
PI 439448 Chilli — A Wild Capsicum eximium from the Highlands of Bolivia
PI 439448 is a wild chilli accession from Bolivia, classified as Capsicum eximium, and conserved in the USDA Plant Introduction (PI) collection. This species is native to the Andean highlands, where wild chillies thrive in rocky, nutrient-poor soils at high altitudes, making them among the most resilient in the Capsicum genus.
The plant grows as a compact, shrubby perennial, well-suited to cooler conditions. It features narrow, pointed leaves and striking purple flowers with pale centres — a visual hallmark of C. eximium. The pods are tiny, upright, and teardrop-shaped, ripening from green to bright red. Despite their small size, these chillies are very hot, typically ranging between 30,000–60,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), with a sharp, clean burn and wild, slightly fruity undertones.
PI 439448 is especially valuable for its cold tolerance, disease resistance, and suitability for low-fertility environments. These traits make it an ideal subject for breeding projects, particularly those aimed at improving hardiness in cultivated chillies. It's also a favourite among collectors of wild Capsicum species.
While not used for bulk culinary applications due to its size, PI 439448 offers a fascinating glimpse into the ancestral genetics of hot peppers — a fiery little survivor from the rugged mountains of Bolivia.
