Tree chilli: care & cultivation of a chilli tree

The chilli tree is a very special kind of chilli and a real eye-catcher. Here you can find out how to properly plant and care for tree chilli.

Tree chillies (Capsicum pubescens) are a special eye-catcher in the garden or on the balcony. Many colorful ones grow on a small trunk Chillies like on a small tree. Because this type of chilli can live for many years and the trunk of the plant becomes lignified, it is also called the chilli tree. With a few tips and tricks, you can grow this exotic plant at home too. Our article will tell you where the tree chili comes from and how to properly plant and care for it.

Tree chilli: origin and properties

The tree chilli (sometimes also called the chilli tree) is a very special type of chilli in the genus

paprika (Capsicum). It is best known in Central and South America. But it is also enjoying increasing popularity with us. The species name pubescens means something like "hairy", which means the leaves of the tree chilli, which are in fact very hairy. The tree chilli has many different names, depending on which part of the world you are in. In Bolivia and Peru it is called "Rocoto" and "Locoto". In Mexico, on the other hand, “Chile Manzano” and “Chile Peron”. The Incas probably already appreciated the hot pods and cultivated the tree chilli thousands of years ago. The spiciness is not only provided by the fruit itself, which can have a wide variety of colors, but also by the black seeds of the fruit.

The tree chilli blooms in very beautiful, delicate purple flowers. In their tropical home, tree chillies can live up to 15 years and grow four meters high. The fruits of the chilli tree are shaped differently, but much smaller than "normal" chillies. The tree chilli is used in the kitchen to season and refine dishes. The best known is probably the fiery fruity-hot salsa from Mexico, which uses plenty of tree chilli. In Peru, the tree chillies are filled with meat and eaten as “Rocotto relleno”.

Buying tree chilli: what you should pay attention to

When buying a chili tree, you should make sure that it is really a plant of the species Capsicum pubescens to buy. In many DIY markets and garden centers, so-called "ornamental chillies" are offered, which give the impression of a small chilli tree. However, this is usually a variety of the species Capisum annum and not a real tree chili. So it's better to look twice and be on the safe side. The type of tree chilli should also be of interest when buying - this determines the shape and color of the fruit. Some interesting varieties of the tree chilli are:

• 'Chile de Seda': This tree chilli variety bears many small, yellow and elongated fruits.
• 'Rocoto Canario': This variety is also called Canary Rocoto and bears yellow round fruits.
• 'Rocoto Manzano': The so-called apple rocoto bears red or orange round fruits.
• 'Rocoto Peron': The so-called pear rocoto convinces with red elongated fruits.
• 'Rocoto Rojo': This variety bears red, round fruits.

In addition, when buying a chili tree, you should make sure that the plant is in good health. The shrub should look vital and healthy and be free from pests or diseases.

Plant tree chilli

Originally spoiled by the Mexican sun, the tree chilli is not hardy. Therefore it can only be grown in pots with us. In winter, the plant can then move to a warm place in the pot. In summer your chili tree will be happy to have a place in the garden or on the terrace. However, this should be partially shaded. During the flowering period, the tree chilli would like to be in the shade. Place the plant in a sheltered, partially shaded location to mature. The substrate for the chilli tree should be loose and nutritious. Tree chilies love a neutral, even slightly acidic pH value. A pH value of 6.5 is optimal.

Location requirements of the chili tree:

• In the house in winter
• Outside in summer
• When blooming in the shade
• Otherwise in partial shade and sheltered from the wind
• Loose, nutrient-rich substrate
• pH 6.5

How to plant a chili tree

Select a sufficiently large pot for planting - a capacity of 10 liters is sufficient. The entire root ball should have enough space to spread undisturbed. In addition, the pot should be equipped with a drainage hole and a drainage layer, for example made of potsherds or gravel. You can mix potting soil with compost, sand, horn shavings and lime as a substrate. Also ours Plantura organic tomato & vegetable soil is ideal for your chillies.

Summary planting tree chilli:

• Choose a sufficiently large planter
• Create a drainage layer
• Mix in potting soil
• Fill one third of the pot with substrate
• Insert the plant so that the root ball can develop sufficiently
• Fill the pot with substrate
• Water well

A general guide to the Plants of chillies can be read here.

Maintain tree chilli

Only with proper care can the tree chilli bring you a rich harvest of Rocotos. Compared to other types of chilli, the tree chilli needs significantly more water. Especially at the time of flowering you should keep the substrate in the pot continuously moist. Compared to other chilli plants, the chilli tree needs significantly more water. The flowering sets in at the equinox of day and night. Keep the trees especially moist and shady during this time. During flowering, the tree chilli should also not be exposed to wind or sun, as this leads to the shedding of the flowers. To pollinate the flowers, you can run a hairbrush through all of the flowers.

As soon as the first flowers appear, you can also start fertilizing. Every 14 days, your tree chilli will be happy to receive a full mineral fertilizer. Alternatively, you can also work with organic slow release fertilizer. Here, only one application of fertilizer is necessary after the tree chilli has been planted out and another one after two months. Our, for example, offers optimal nutrients for your tree chilli Plantura organic tomato fertilizer with organic long-term effect. Everything else about Fertilization of chillies can be found here in our special article.

If the chilli tree gets too big for you, you can prune it back in spring before the plant sprouts again. Spring is also the best time to repot. You can then cut the branches down before winter if there is not enough space available in the winter quarters. The tree chilli usually copes with this very well. You can also remove dead shoots and leaves at the same time. The tree chilli should not dry out in winter either, but fertilization is not necessary in the winter months.

tip: With our Plantura chilli growing kit Even those new to the garden can grow the hot pods. In addition to five different types of chilli, the set also includes detailed instructions.