Description
Chilli Name: PI 439449
Chilli Species: Eximium
Chilli Origin: Bolivia
Chilli Heat: Hot
PI 439449 Chilli — A Rare Wild Chilli from the Bolivian Highlands
PI 439449 is a wild chilli accession from Bolivia, classified as Capsicum eximium, and preserved in the USDA Plant Introduction (PI) collection. This species is part of the “purple-flowered” wild Capsicums, native to the high-altitude Andean regions, where chillies grow in rocky, cool environments.
The plant grows as a dense, shrubby perennial, well-suited to marginal soils and cooler conditions. One of its most distinctive traits is its beautiful purple flowers with pale centres — a hallmark of C. eximium. The pods are tiny, round to teardrop-shaped, held upright, and ripen from green to red. Despite their small size, the chillies carry a noticeable punch, often estimated at 30,000–60,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU).
PI 439449 is especially valued by collectors and breeders for its genetic diversity, pest resistance, and cold tolerance — making it a potential parent in breeding projects seeking tougher, more adaptable plants. While not a culinary chilli in the commercial sense due to its small fruit size, it adds serious value to any grower’s collection focused on wild Capsicum preservation.
In short, PI 439449 is a compact, fiery, and genetically significant chilli from Bolivia’s wild landscapes — a botanical gem for chilli enthusiasts, researchers, and anyone exploring the wilder side of the Capsicum family.
