The spicier counterparts (including the Carolina Reaper) are found in the Capsicum chinense family, while those which are less often cultivated fall into the Capsicum frutescens species.

Capsicum annum. These include bell peppers and jalapenos. Capsicum frutescens. The tabasco pepper is in this group. Capsicum chinense. These include the intensely hot habanero and Scotch bonnet ...

The legend goes something like this: Back in the 1860s, Edmund McIlhenny, who married into the Avery family, was given some Capsicum frutescens peppers to try growing at his in-laws’ plantation ...

Special thanks to the Biomuseo, a Smithsonian Affiliate in Panama, for this guest post. July 13, 2020 ...

The donne’ sali chilli is a variant of Capsicum frutescens, the species that also gives us Tabasco chilli. It was probably introduced to the Mariana Islands in the 17th century.

Members of the Capsicum annuum complex (Capsicum annuum, Capsicum frutescens, and Capsicum chinense) should be considered fully cross-compatible and should be isolated from one another.