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Capsicum chinense 'Bhut Jolokia'

chilli pepper 'Bhut Jolokia'

One of the world’s hottest chilli pepper cultivars, also referred to as the ‘ghost pepper’. The bushy plants will reach about 1.2m in height when container grown; producing 5-8cm long and 2.5-3cm wide 'wrinkled' fruit that turns from green to orange then to red.

Synonyms
Capsicum 'Bhut Jolokia'
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Size
Ultimate height
1–1.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
1 year
Ultimate spread
0.5–1 metres
Growing conditions
Loam
Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring Green
Summer White Green Green Orange Red
Autumn Green Green Orange Red
Winter
Position
  • Full sun
Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H1C
Botanical details
Family
Solanaceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Genus

Capsicum are annual or perennial plants, with simple, alternate leaves, and tubular or bell-shaped flowers. They are grown for their glossy, many-seeded edible fruits, including chilli and bell peppers, and as indoor ornamental plants

Name status

Unresolved

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How to grow

Cultivation

Best grown inside on a sunny windowsill or in a greenhouse, but can be grown outside once all danger of frost has passed; select a sunny, sheltered position and grow in containers, growing bags or in open ground. Water regularly and feed with a high-potassium, liquid fertiliser once the first fruit has set. See chilli-pepper cultivation for further details

Propagation

Propagate by seed in late winter to early spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types
  • Patio and container plants
  • Conservatory and greenhouse
  • Edible fruit
Pruning

No pruning required; pinch out growing tips of plants when they are about 20cm tall to encourage bushiness

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, whitefly, aphids, slugs and snails

Diseases

May be susceptible to grey moulds

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