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Capsicum frutescens

Common name: Tabasco pepper Family: Solanaceae
Author: L. Botanical references: 200
Synonyms: Capsicum minimum (Roxb.)
Known Hazards: Although no reports have been seen for this species, many plants in this family produce toxins in their leaves. The sap of the plant can cause the skin to blister[200].
Range: Probably native of the Tropics, but the original habitat is obscure.
Habitat: Not known in the wild.
Plants For A Future Rating (1-5): 3

Other Possible Synonyms:From various places across the web, may not be correct. See below.
C. annum var. aviculare[P] C. annuum[B,E,G,H,HPIC,HORTIPLEX,Sc,,P] C. annuum var. annuum[B,G,P] C. annuum var. aviculare[B,G,P] C. annuum var. frutescens[B,P] C. annuum var. glabriusculum[B,G,P] C. annuum var. minimum[G,P] C. annuum var. minus[B,P] C. baccatum[B] C. baccatum auct. non[P] C. cordiforme[G] C. frutescens sensu[P] C. frytescens[E] C. hispidum var. glabriusculum[G] Croton annum[H]
Other Common Names:From various places around the Web, may not be correct. See below.
African Pepper [H], Aji Dulce [E], Bird Pepper [H], Capsicum [S], Cayenne [H], Cayenne Pepper [P,B], Chabai Achong [E], Chile [H,E], Chillies [H], Filfil [E], Filfil Darah [E], Hungarian Pepper [H], Kirmizi Biber [E], La Chiao [E], Mexican Chili [H], Paprika [H], Pepper, Bird Or Chili [S], Pepper,Red [E], Peppers [H], Piment De Cayenne [E], Piment Doux [E], Pimiento [E], Red Pepper [H], Sakaipilo [E], Sili Biberi [E], Sweet Pepper [H],
Epithets:From a Dictionary of Botanical Epithets
frutescens = becoming shrubby;
Other Range Info: From the Ethnobotany Database
China; Dominican Republic; Gabon; Haiti; Hawaii; India; India(Santal); Iraq; Malagasy; Malaya; Mexico; Mexico(Aztec); Mongolia; Panama(Cuna); Philippines; Philippines(Ifugao); Samoa; Spain; Tonga; Trinidad; Turkey; Us; Us(Nm)
Plant Passport required for Trade in UK/EUFrom DEFRA Plant passporting.
Plant Passport Required for commercial growers in the UK/Europe.

Physical Characteristics

Perennial growing to 1m by 0.6m . It is hardy to zone 9 and is frost tender. It is in flower from August to September. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs). We rate it 3 out of 5 for usefulness.

The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very acid and very alkaline soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires moist soil.

Habitats and Possible Locations

Cultivated Beds, By Walls, By South Wall, By West Wall.

Edible Uses

Condiment; Fruit; Leaves.

Fruit - raw or cooked[34, 46, 132]. Very hot and normally used as a flavouring[183]. The fruit can be dried and ground into a powder for use as a flavouring[142]. The fruit is up to 7.5cm long and 1cm wide[200].

Seed - dried, ground and used as a pepper[2].

Leaves - cooked as a potherb[183]. Some caution is advised, see note at top of the page.

Medicinal Uses

Disclaimer

Anaesthetic; Antihaemorrhoidal; Antirheumatic; Antiseptic; Carminative; Diaphoretic; Digestive; Irritant; Rubefacient; Sialagogue; Stimulant; Stomachic.

The dried fruit is a powerful local stimulant with no narcotic effect, it is most useful in atony of the intestines and stomach[4]. It has proved efficacious in dilating blood vessels and thus relieving chronic congestion of people addicted to drink[4]. It is sometimes used as a tonic and is said to be unequalled in warding off disease[4] (probably due to the high vitamin C content[K]). Some caution should be employed, however, since large doses are extremely irritating to the gastro-intestinal system[268].

Used externally, the fruit is a strong rubefacient stimulating the circulation, aiding the removal of waste products and increasing the flow of nutrients to the tissues[254]. It is applied as a cataplasm or liniment[4]. It has also been powdered and placed inside socks as a traditional remedy for those prone to cold feet[254]. A weak infusion can be used as a gargle to treat throat complaints[268].

The fruit is also antihaemorrhoidal, antirheumatic, antiseptic, carminative, diaphoretic, digestive, sialagogue and stomachic[7, 165, 171]. These pungent fruited peppers are important in the tropics as gastrointestinal detoxifiers and food preservatives[238].

The fruits contain 0.1 - 1.5% capsaicin[254]. This substance stimulates the circulation and alters temperature regulation. Applied to the skin it desensitizes nerve endings and so has been used as a local anaesthetic[254].

The seed contains capsicidins[254]. These are thought to have antibiotic properties[254].

Other Uses

Repellent.

The growing plant repels insects[20].

Cultivation details

Requires a very warm sunny position and a fertile well-drained soil. Tolerates a pH in the range 4.3 to 8.3.

This species is a frost-tender perennial that is usually cultivated as an annual[34, 61]. It does not commonly do well outdoors in an average British summer and it is usually grown in a greenhouse in this country[1]. However, if a very warm sheltered position outdoors is chosen then reasonable crops could be obtained in good summers.

Widely grown throughout the world, but especially in warm temperate to tropical climates for its edible fruit, tabasco peppers. There are many named varieties[132].

The growing plant is a good companion for aubergines[20].

Propagation

Seed - sow late winter to early spring in a warm greenhouse[138]. The seed usually germinates in 3 - 4 weeks at 20°c. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots of reasonably rich soil and grow them on fast. If trying them outdoors, then plant them out after the last expected frosts and give them the protection of a cloche or frame at least until they are established and growing away well.

Cultivars

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There are many named varieties of this annual vegetable, with new forms being developed. At present there is not time to enter these in the database and it is recommended that you consult the book 'The Fruit and Vegetable Finder' which is updated regularly and can be obtained from libraries.

Web References

References for Capsicum annuum (a possible synonym). References for Capsicum annuum var. annuum (a possible synonym). References for Capsicum annuum var. frutescens (a possible synonym). References for Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum (a possible synonym). References for Capsicum frytescens (a possible synonym). References for Capsicum minimum (a possible synonym). References for capsicum annuum (a possible synonym). References for capsicum frutescens (a possible synonym).

See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources or the The Gatherer where you can search many other sources all in one go.

References

[K] Ken Fern
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.

[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[2] Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.

[4] Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.

[7] Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984 ISBN 0-356-10541-5
Covers plants growing in Europe. Also gives other interesting information on the plants. Good photographs.

[20] Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978 ISBN 0-88266-064-0
Fairly good.

[34] Harrison. S. Wallis. M. Masefield. G. The Oxford Book of Food Plants. Oxford University Press 1975
Good drawings of some of the more common food plants from around the world. Not much information though.

[46] Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.

[61] Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974 ISBN 0094579202
Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.

[132] Bianchini. F., Corbetta. F. and Pistoia. M. Fruits of the Earth.
Lovely pictures, a very readable book.

[138] Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 3. Thompson and Morgan. 1989
Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation.

[142] Brouk. B. Plants Consumed by Man. Academic Press 1975 ISBN 0-12-136450-x
Readable but not very comprehensive.

[165] Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.
An excellent small herbal.

[171] Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952
Not very comprehensive, but it is quite readable and goes into some a bit of detail about the plants it does cover.

[183] Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.

[200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[238] Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.

[254] Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996 ISBN 9-780751-303148
An excellent guide to over 500 of the more well known medicinal herbs from around the world.

[268] Stuart. M. (Editor) The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism Orbis Publishing. London. 1979 ISBN 0-85613-067-2
Excellent herbal with good concise information on over 400 herbs.

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