Description
Chilli Name: CAPSICUM HOOKERIANUM
Chilli Species: Hookerianum
Chilli Origin: Ecuador
Chilli Heat: Unknown
Capsicum hookerianum — A Rare Wild Chilli from the Cloud Forests of South America
Capsicum hookerianum is a little-known but fascinating wild chilli species native to the montane forests of Ecuador and southern Colombia. Found growing at elevations between 1,000 and 2,500 metres, it thrives in cool, humid cloud forest environments — far removed from the hot, arid climates typically associated with chillies.
The plant itself is a woody shrub, often growing up to 1.5 metres tall, with large, soft green leaves and slender branching. Its flowers are delicate and white, often tinged with pale green, and bloom singly or in small clusters. The fruits are small, round, and bright red when mature, although formal studies on their flavour or heat levels are limited. Most field reports suggest the pods are likely non-pungent or only faintly hot, as Capsicum hookerianum is not known to produce significant amounts of capsaicin.
This species is especially important from a botanical and conservation standpoint. It belongs to a basal lineage of the Capsicum genus, meaning it diverged early in evolutionary history, and shares characteristics with other primitive species like C. lanceolatum and C. lycianthoides. Its unique genetics could prove valuable for research into capsaicin evolution, environmental adaptation, and disease resistance.
Because of its rarity and specialised habitat, Capsicum hookerianum is not grown commercially and is seldom seen outside of botanical gardens or academic collections. However, for those studying the origins of chillies or seeking to preserve wild genetic diversity, this species offers a window into the deep evolutionary past of the Capsicum genus.
