Vegetables
Heredity: Open Pollinated
History: Often called "Ghost Pepper"
Country of Origin: India

Data specific to Peppers (Edit)
General Type: Other: Sinense
Pepper Shape: Tapered
Wrinkled
Fruit Length: 2 - 3 inches
Fruit Width at Shoulders: 1 - 1.5 inches
Fruit Ripening Color Sequence: Green to Orange to Red
Days to First Harvest and Maturity: 100 - 120 Color not specified
Wall Thickness: Thin
Scoville Heat Units (approximate SHU): 800,000 - 1,040,000
Heat: Ultra Hot >300K SHU

General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 10b +1.7 °C (35 °F) to +4.4 °C (40 °F)
Plant Height: average around 2 feet but can grow as high as 3 feet
Plant Spread: 2 feet
Fruit: Showy
Flowers: Inconspicuous
Flower Color: White
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Flower Time: Summer
Late summer or early fall
Fall
Underground structures: Taproot
Uses: Vegetable
Suitable as Annual
Edible Parts: Fruit
Propagation: Seeds: Provide darkness
Needs specific temperature
Days to germinate: 5 - 20 days depending on soil temperature
Depth to plant seed: 1/4"
Start indoors
Can handle transplanting
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Needs excellent drainage in pots
Preferred depth: 12" minimum for good anchorage

Image
Common names
  • Ghost Pepper
  • Bhut Jolokia
  • Aji
Botanical names
  • Accepted: Capsicum chinense
  • Synonym: Capsicum sinense
  • Synonym: Capsicum assamicum

Photo Gallery
Location: MoonDance Farm, NC
Date: 2012-10-30
Various stages of fruit color: green, orange, orange/red, red
Location: all photos from my gardens
Location: Columbus, Ohio USA, Zone 6b
Date: 10/20/19
Grown in a pot on the patio. Did nicely and we got a good harvest
Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana
Date: 2012-10-03
Photo by cycadjungle
Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana
Date: 2012-11-12
Bhut Jolokia Capsicum: .Chinense Origin: .India PI: . Scoville un

Date: 2017-07-15
Photo by herbie43
Location: Columbus, Ohio USA, Zone 6b
Date: 5/10/19
Location: North Branch, MN
Date: 2018-07-26
Location: Columbus, Ohio USA, Zone 6b
Date: Grown in a pot on the patio.
Photo by herbie43

 Photo Courtesy of Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. Used with permissi
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: From Test garden
Date: 2014-09-04
Location: Jacksonville, Fl.
Date: 2014-07-31
Growing in containers.
Location: Cedar Creek, Texas
Date: 2019-06-23
Yummm!

Date: 2017-07-29
Photo by cycadjungle
Photo by cycadjungle
Location: Botanical Garden Berlin
Date: 2017-01-07
Location: MoonDance Farm, NC
Date: 2012-11-11
Bhut Jolokia: \"skeleton\" of plant with unpicked peppers after f
Location: NE., Fl.
Date: 2014-03-01 
Planted the seeds 7 weeks ago.

Date: 2017-07-02
Ghost pods
This plant is tagged in:
Image

Comments:
  • Posted by DanCarmona (Fort Wayne, Indiana - Zone 5a) on Nov 12, 2012 11:46 AM concerning plant:
    Bhut Jolokia
    Capsicum: .Chinense
    Origin: .India
    PI: .
    Scoville units: .1,041,427
    Blossom end shape: .pointed
    Fruit position and shape: .pendant, elongate
    Fruit size and color: .3¼ "x 1 ¾" green > red
    Calyx shape: .saucer shaped, toothless
    Flower: .stellate, small, bell-shaped
    Petals/Spots: .white/none
    Filament color: .white
    Anther color: .blue
    Habit: . small, usually low bush
    Stem: .smooth
    Leaves: .large, uneven
    Germ. Time: .3 wk. >.3 mo.
    Maturity: . 95 days
    Plant height: .24 > 36"
    Taste: .
    Uses:·
    This landrace chile originates from the northeast of India, particularly Assam, Nagaland and Manipur. It belongs to Capsicum chinense family and is known by many names in the different Indian provinces.
  • Posted by Horseshoe (Efland, NC - Zone 7a) on Nov 11, 2012 10:42 AM concerning plant:
    Bhut Jolokia (a.k.a. "Ghost Peppers") was considered the hottest available until 2009 when Trinidad Scorpion was proven to be higher on the Scoville scale.
  • Posted by scweethart on Jan 25, 2024 7:41 PM concerning plant:
    I have Habanero seed from Southern Exposure See Exchange and they are marked Capsicum Chinense which is ghost pepper in this database. Are these technically the same pepper or is my packet have a mistake?
Plant Events from our members
piksihk On May 12, 2020 Seeds sown
piksihk On October 26, 2014 Miscellaneous Event
2 peppers are dried;
piksihk On June 27, 2014 Plant Ended (Removed, Died, Discarded, etc)
p1mkw On March 14, 2010 Plant emerged
p1mkw On March 7, 2010 Seeds sown
variegatagal On May 28, 2023 Maintenance performed
Pruned lower leaves
variegatagal On April 27, 2019 Transplanted
variegatagal On October 22, 2018 Potted up
variegatagal On May 7, 2018 Obtained plant
Walmart (Corinth), Bonnies Plants
variegatagal On May 7, 2018 Transplanted
» Post your own event for this plant

Discussion Threads about this plant
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
Nice photo! by Patti1957 Nov 14, 2012 6:26 PM 5

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