Growing Capsicum frutescens: Tabasco and bird peppers
Our guide first, then the quoted facts, linked to their sources.
Quoted facts about growing Capsicum frutescens from 5 source publications.
Our guide written by Pepperheads
Oregon State says frutescens fruit are produced in an upright growth, and UF/IFAS says plants can grow up to about 5 feet tall with a bushy growth. Oregon State says to plant them in the warmest area of the garden with season extension such as plastic row covers or a greenhouse, and says the species was domesticated in the humid tropical lowlands of Central America.
Oregon State describes the fruit as 1–3 inches long, slim, tapered and very hot (30,000–50,000 SHU), and Missouri says the plants often bear more than one fruit per node. Oregon State names Tabasco, grown commercially for making tabasco sauce, plus African Birdseye (also known as piri or Thai Hot) and Pequin. NMSU says NuMex NoBasco came from a hybridization between Tabasco and a no-heat frutescens accession from Colombia.
The displayed quotations do not give a frutescens-specific germination temperature, spacing or days to maturity. See also our growing basics.
The sourced facts
Fruit
Peppers of C. frutescens cultivars are 1–3 inches long, slim, tapered and very hot (30,000–50,000 SHU).
Members of this species produce small, hot fruits, often with more than one fruit per node.
Cultivars
A popular pepper of this group is Tabasco, grown commercially for making tabasco sauce. Other cultivars in this species include African Birdseye (also known as piri or Thai Hot) and Pequin (piquín).
Tabasco
‘Tabasco’ pepper is Capsicum frutescens
Growth habit
Fruit are produced in an upright growth, making them especially attractive as ornamental plants.
Fruits of this species grow a little differently than other peppers; they remain upright when they mature instead of hanging down from their stems. Plants can grow up to about 5 feet tall with a bushy growth.
Origin
This species was domesticated in the humid tropical lowlands of Central America.
Where to plant
Plant them in the warmest area of the garden and use season extension technologies (plastic row covers, greenhouse, etc.) for the best production.
A no-heat Tabasco type
‘NuMex NoBasco’ originated from a hybridization between ‘Tabasco’ and a no-heat Capsicum frutescens accession from Colombia (CATIE 9838).
What our sources don't cover
We looked for these and didn't find them for this type in the sources above, so we don't state them: a frutescens-specific germination temperature; frutescens-specific spacing; days to maturity for frutescens cultivars. For general germination, hardening-off and spacing figures, see our growing basics.
Heat: open the Scoville explorer for variety-specific quotations.
More guides: Capsicum annuum · Capsicum chinense · Capsicum baccatum · Capsicum pubescens · Indoors and overwintering