Description
Chilli Name: PI 560943
Chilli Species: Eximium
Chilli Origin: Bolivia
Chilli Heat: Hot
PI 560943 Chilli — A Wild Capsicum eximium from Bolivia’s Andean Foothills
PI 560943 is a wild chilli accession from Bolivia, officially classified as Capsicum eximium, and preserved in the USDA Plant Introduction (PI) database. It represents one of the many purple-flowered wild species native to the Andean region, where chilli plants have evolved to survive in cooler, high-altitude, and nutrient-poor environments.
This variety grows as a compact, shrubby perennial, with narrow leaves and the distinctive purple corolla with a pale centre typical of C. eximium. It produces small, upright, teardrop-shaped pods, which mature from green to bright red. Though tiny in size, these pods are very hot, typically ranging from 30,000 to 60,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), and offer a clean, sharp burn with a wild, slightly fruity undertone.
PI 560943 is especially prized for its cold tolerance, natural pest resistance, and ability to thrive in poor soils — traits inherited from its native highland habitat. These qualities make it ideal for breeding programmes looking to introduce hardiness and disease resistance into cultivated varieties, as well as for collectors and conservation growers interested in wild Capsicum biodiversity.
In short, PI 560943 is a fiery, resilient, and genetically valuable wild chilli from the Bolivian Andes — a small plant with big potential.
