Description
Chilli Name : CHILTEPIN AMARILLO
Chilli Species : Annuum (var. glabriusculum – wild type)
Chilli Origin : Mexico / USA (Sonoran Desert region)
Chilli Heat : Hot
Chiltepin Amarillo is a wild chilli type belonging to the Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum family, considered by many to be the original wild ancestor of all annuums. The Amarillo form produces small, round pods that ripen to a bright yellow instead of the usual red.
Heat is hot, with sharp, clean intensity that fades quickly compared to modern cultivated strains. Flavour is bright and tangy, making it highly prized in traditional dishes across northern Mexico and the southern USA. In Sonoran culture, chiltepin is often called the “mother of all peppers” and has deep historical significance.
Plants are naturally bushy and sprawling, often growing 1–2 m tall in the wild, though more compact in cultivation. They are slower to germinate than most chillies, often taking 3–6 weeks, and require warmth and patience to establish. Once settled, they can live for several years as perennial shrubs.
Seeds germinate best at 28–30 °C, with extended time to sprout. Plants usually require 120+ days to first harvest, rewarding growers with heavy flushes of small yellow pods.
