Key Features
- Traditional Mexican chile pepper known for slender, bright red fruits
- Fruits mature from green to vivid red when fully ripe
- Upright plants produce plenty of narrow, fiery hot peppers
- Excellent for salsa, hot sauces, chili powders, and dried peppers
- Warm-season variety suited to sunny vegetable gardens and containers
Growing Benefits
- Adds bold color and spicy character to home vegetable gardens
- Compact growth makes it practical for smaller growing spaces
- Useful harvest for fresh, dried, or ground culinary preparations
- Enjoys warm conditions and consistent care during the growing season
- Suitable for gardeners interested in growing distinctive pepper varieties
Seed Specifications
Common Name: Chile de Arbol Pepper, Arbol Chili Pepper
Botanical Name: Capsicum annuum
Plant Type: Warm-season annual pepper
Colors: Green fruits ripen to bright red
Height: Typically about two to three feet
Sunlight: Full sun
Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil rich in organic matter
Water: Moderate and consistent; avoid waterlogged soil
Germination Time: Usually about ten to fourteen days under favorable conditions
Sowing Depth: About one-quarter inch deep
Spacing: Allow about eighteen to twenty-four inches between plants
Growing Zones: Commonly grown as a warm-season annual across suitable climates
Flowering/Maturity: Small white flowers develop into peppers, generally reaching maturity around seventy-five to eighty days after transplanting
Uses: Fresh cooking, salsa, hot sauces, drying, pickling, and chili powder
Growing Tips
- Start seeds indoors in a warm, bright location before outdoor temperatures settle.
- Keep the seed-starting mix lightly moist but never saturated.
- Harden seedlings gradually before moving them into the garden.
- Harvest ripe red peppers regularly to encourage continued fruit production.
Seed Storage
Store unused seeds in a cool, dry, dark place away from moisture and heat. Keep them in a sealed, moisture-resistant container and protect them from temperature fluctuations. Proper storage helps maintain seed quality for future planting.
Unique Facts About Chile de Arbol Seeds
- Chile de Arbol means “tree chili” in Spanish, referring to the plant's woody appearance.
- The peppers are narrow, slender, and commonly mature from green to bright red.
- Chile de Arbol is a cultivar of Capsicum annuum, the same species that includes many other familiar peppers.
- The peppers are widely used in Mexican cuisine and are especially valued for drying and making spicy sauces and powders.
