Hot Pepper Plant Identification

There are a multitude of hot pepper plants. If you are a gardener, it is quite likely you have already grown hot peppers in your garden. However, different hot pepper plants are utilized for different purposes, so being able to identify yours is important.

Jalapeno

Jalapeno peppers are typically used in Mexican cooking. The plants can grow up to 20 inches in height and the peppers grow to 3-inches wide and 1-inch long. Immature peppers are green and then ripen in red.

Habaneros

Habaneros are one of the spiciest peppers in the world. The plants look similar to the jalapeno but the peppers themselves are not as cylindrical. The habanero pepper grows to 2-inches long and 1.5-inches wide.

Poblano

The poblano pepper is much larger than other peppers. The plants can grow quite tall and the heart-shaped pepper can grow to 6 inches in length. When dried, poblanos are called anchos.

Aji

The aji pepper is common in South America. It is often used in salsa or ceviche. The plant can grow up to 6 feet in height.

Cherry Peppers

Cherry peppers get their name because of their cherry-like appearance. These plants are often used for ornamental purposes or pickling.

References

• Hot Pepper Identification