How To Identify Different Types Of Pepper Plants

Do you have a pepper plant, but aren’t sure what type it is? We’ve been there before, forgetting to label a plant, or losing the seed packet. It happens.

There are many types of pepper plants. From small, dwarf varieties, to the massive, super-hot varieties, the diversity is amazing.

Looking for more pictures? Browse the different pepper varieties (w/pictures) we have reviewed here.

Identifying an exact pepper cultivar is basically impossible without knowing the seed source. However, honing in on the species can help narrow it down. Thankfully, there are some distinguishing traits between the different pepper species to help you figure out what type of plant you have.

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Look At The Flowers

Pepper flowers vary widely from one variety to the next. They can be large, small, have 6 or more petals, or as few as 4, be purple, or white. However, there are a few standout characteristics that may help narrow down the pepper plant.

• Purple flowers are most likely C. annuum or C. pubescens. The annuum species sort of has it all. Purple flowers, white flowers, variegated leaves, dark foliage, big pods, small chilies, and more. If the flowers on your pepper plant are purple, it is probably a C. annuum type, but could also be the rarer C. pubescens.
• Flowers with yellow spots are C. baccatum. This is perhaps the most obvious distinguishing trait in pepper flowers. C. baccatum flowers always have a white corolla with pale green or yellow spots.

While a unique flower can definitely help narrow things down, many pepper flowers are just ordinary and white. In this case you can turn to other parts of the plant to help identify the type of pepper.

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Compare The Leaves

If the flowers on your plant are plain white (most varieties are), then you’ll have to inspect the foliage next. Different species have leaves that can easily be distinguished.

If your plant has dark foliage, that can be another indicator of the species. C. annuum and C. chinense plants are known to have dark foliage varieties. C. pubescens and C. baccatum leaves are always green. C. pubescens may have purpling along veins.

Foliage can only take you so far in terms of identification. The only step left is to wait for a pepper to form on the plant. Even with a ripe fruit, identification of a specific cultivar is basically impossible. However, you can make an educated guess based on several characteristics.

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Try The Fruits!

It may take more time, but you will probably need to allow your plants to fruit to identify the most likely pepper type. There are thousands of different cultivars, so the only way to know for sure is to know where the seeds came from.

Appearance and Growth Habit

There are countless shapes and sizes of different peppers. From the blocky bell pepper, to the long and slender cayennes, to the berry-like aji charapita. Some pods have wrinkly skin (many C. chinense types), while others are perfectly smooth.

While we don’t have an exhaustive list of all the pepper types, this book has helped us identify some mystery pepper plants in the past!

Another distinguishing factor is the growth habit. Some plants grow pods upwards, where the fruits point straight up to the sky. This is fairly common in both C. annuum and C. frutescens, but uncommon in other species.

Flavor, Aroma, and Heat

One of the best methods of identifying pepper plant types is to smell and taste the fruits. Each species has its own unique flavor, and once you get used to it, you’ll easily know them apart!

• C. annuum peppers often have a sweet, fresh, and vegetal flavor. Spicier, chili-types (such as cayennes or Thai peppers) can be described as smoky and dark, but rarely flowery.
• C. chinense peppers can be some of the hottest in the world, so handle and taste with care! The flavors are also very distinguished from all other types, with a floral, sometimes fruity flavor. Some types can be extremely flowery, with some comparing the taste to potpourri. Next time you’re at the supermarket, get a habanero and a jalapeno to compare the smell and flavor.
• C. baccatum peppers are fruity and bright, with most peppers having thick walls and a crunchy texture. Heat can range from mild to very hot.
• C. pubescens peppers are usually medium spicy, while the peppers are fruity and softer in texture. The seeds of C. pubescens plants are also black, another unique trait of the species.

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Want more? Check out the different types of jalapeño peppers here. I hope this article helps you to get better at identifying different pepper plants. However, always remember that world of peppers is vast, and no two varieties are exactly the same!