Botanical Name: Capsicum frutescens
Some other names: Pepper, hot pepper, chili
How to grow it:
The chilli tree (Capsicum frutescens) is a woody perennial shrub that can grow up to 2 m tall, developing into a proper bush rather than a short-lived annual like most other chillies. Once established, it bounces back strongly each spring and fruits reliably for years.
It’s native to Central and South America, but is now grown worldwide across tropical, subtropical, and even warm temperate regions. It loves heat and sun, but in cooler climates it can still be grown – you just get a shorter fruiting season.
The chilli tree handles a wide range of conditions: it tolerates drought once mature, copes with periods of heavy rain (though not waterlogging), and produces best in well-drained soil with regular watering. Fertilise and mulch well for the best crops – but go easy on the high-nitrogen fertilisers, or you’ll end up with lots of leaves and fewer chillies.
sprout in warmer weather.
It grows happily in large pots too – you might just need to trim roots every couple of years to keep it thriving. Propagation is easy from seed (just dry ripe fruits and sow when the weather warms), and you’ll get a good crop in the very first year. It also strikes from tip cuttings, though seed is simpler for most gardeners.
Herbal & Nutrient Value
Chillies are small but mighty when it comes to nutrition. The fruits are high in vitamin C (great for your immune system), along with vitamins A and B, plus minerals like calcium, potassium, iron, and zinc.
But their real claim to fame is capsaicin – the compound that makes them hot. Capsaicin is widely studied and known to boost circulation, warm the body, clear sinuses, and support heart health. Regular chilli eaters are thought to have a lower risk of heart attack, and chillies are a traditional remedy for colds and congestion.
Traditional & Home Remedies
Chilli-Ginger-Garlic Tea: Simmer dried chilli, ginger, garlic, lemon; sip for colds/flu.
Chilli Oil Infusion: Crushed dried chillies steeped in olive oil for 2+ months; used topically for joint pain (diluted) or as a culinary oil.
Warm Foot Soak: Chilli powder added to warm water to stimulate circulation.
Chilli Tincture: Diluted alcohol tincture used as a warming digestive aid (folk use).
Sinus Clearer: Spicy chilli broth to open nasal passages.
Using It in the Kitchen
Chillies are one of the most versatile kitchen plants you can grow. They can be picked at any stage – green, red, or anywhere in between – with red fruit generally being hotter and sweeter.
Add them fresh to omelettes, pasta sauces, stir-fries, soups – basically anything that needs a lift. At the end of the season, gather the ripe red chillies, dry them, and make chilli flakes or a homemade chilli oil by steeping them in olive oil for a couple of months. This infused oil is brilliant drizzled on pizza or stirred into dishes at the very end of cooking for an extra kick.
Chilli also makes a great winter tonic – a simple tea made from dried chilli, ginger, garlic, lemon juice, and honey can help clear colds and warm you right through.
5 Simple Recipes:
– Homemade Chilli Oil – dry red chillies, crush slightly, cover with olive oil, and let steep for 2 months.
– Chilli & Garlic Stir-Fry – fry sliced chillies with garlic before tossing in vegetables or noodles.
– Fiery Omelette – whisk chopped chillies into eggs for a breakfast with heat.
– Spicy Soup Starter – sauté chilli and onion as the flavour base for hearty soups.
– Cold-Fighting Chilli Tea – steep dried chilli, ginger, garlic, and lemon in hot water; sip diluted throughout the day.
Other Uses
The chilli tree isn’t just a flavour booster – it’s a medicinal powerhouse. Its fruit has been used traditionally for everything from easing joint pain to stimulating circulation. In the garden, chilli sprays (made by steeping chillies in water) are a natural way to deter pests.
Why it’s a survival plant:
They’re long-lived, drought-tolerant, and produce abundant, vitamin-rich fruit for years on end. A single plant can supply enough spice for an entire household – and even double as a natural remedy ingredient when you need it.
