Capsicum annuum

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Capsicum annuum is a flowering plant in the nightshade family. It is native to northern South America and southwestern North America and includes many familiar peppers, from sweet bell peppers to hot chili peppers like jalapeño and cayenne. The plant is often grown as an annual, but in warm climates it can live for several seasons as a small shrub.

Domestication started about 6,000 years ago in Mexico. The fruits come in many colors (red, green, yellow, purple) and shapes (small berries to bell-shaped). The heat level comes from capsaicinoids, especially capsaicin, and is measured on the Scoville scale. Bell peppers are 0, while very hot peppers like chiltepín can reach 100,000–200,000 SHU.

Capsicum annuum plants are shrubs with many branches. They can grow up to about 2 meters tall and have glossy leaves with star- or bell-shaped flowers. Fruits develop after flowering and seeds can be dispersed by birds, which aren’t affected by capsaicin.

Humans use C. annuum worldwide in food (fresh, dried, powdered), traditional medicine, cosmetics, and even self-defense (pepper spray). Some varieties are grown for ornament, such as the Black Pearl. They are nutritious, providing vitamins A, B, C and carotenoids.

The peppers have been bred for many traits, but the plant can still face pests and diseases, including whiteflies, aphids, weevils, and phytophthora blights and rot.

Conservation status: Least Concern.