Tree Pepper (Capsicum pubescens)

Taxonomy and growth

Family: Solanaceae
Genus: Capsicum
Life cycle: perennial
Height: 3 m
Spread: 2 m
Flower type: hermaphrodite

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

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^[4].

Edible uses

Fruit - raw or cooked^[5]. The distinctive thick-fleshed pungent fruits are used as a vegetable condiment or made into a sauce^[2]. A hot pungent flavour, it is mainly used as a flavouring in cooked foods^[5]. In Peru the seeds are removed, the fruit stuffed with a savoury filling and then baked^[2]. The fruit can be dried and ground into a powder for use as a pepper-like condiment^[5].

Product or use: Condiment

Plant part: Fruit

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

The hot and pungent fruit is antihaemorrhoidal when taken in small amounts, antirheumatic, antiseptic, diaphoretic, digestive, irritant, rubefacient, sialagogue and tonic^[6]^[5]. It is taken internally in the treatment of the cold stage of fevers, debility in convalescence or old age, varicose veins, asthma and digestive problems^[5]. Externally it is used in the treatment of sprains, unbroken chilblains, neuralgia, pleurisy etc^[5].

Product or use: Antihaemorrhoidal

Product or use: Antirheumatic

Product or use: Digestive

Product or use: Irritant

Product or use: Rubefacient

Product or use: Sialagogue

Material uses

The growing plant repels insects^[3].

Environment

Range: S. America - Andes.
Habitat: Not known
Light: full sun
Shade tolerance: no shade
Water: moderate
Hardiness: Zone 9+
Soil textures: sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH: very acid, acid, neutral, alkaline, very alkaline
Drainage: well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil: No
Drought: intolerant

Propagation

Seed - sow late winter to early spring in a warm greenhouse^[1]. 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.

Cultivation

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 only likely to be hardy in the milder areas of Britain, it can tolerate temperatures down to at least -5°c^[5]. It might be possible to get it to fruit outdoors in the mildest areas of the country, especially if given the protection of a sunny wall[K]. Plants are able to continue fruiting for 15 years in cool moist climates^[5].

Capsicum annuumSweet Pepper
Capsicum baccatumLocoto
Capsicum frutescensTabasco Pepper
Atropa acuminataIndian Belladonna

References

Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 3. Thompson and Morgan. 1989-00-00
↩
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
↩1 ↩2
Riotte. L. Companion Planting for Successful Gardening. Garden Way, Vermont, USA. 1978-00-00 ISBN 0-88266-064-0
↩
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
↩
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
↩1 ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8
Chiej. R. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-356-10541-5
↩