Pepper

Article By:

Smith, Paul G. Department of Vegetable Crops, College of Agricultural and Environmental Science, University of California, Davis, California.

Cook, A. A. Department of Plant Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

Last reviewed:August 2019

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.496900

Any of several warm-season species of the plant genus Capsicum (family Solanaceae, order Solanales), especially Capsicum annuum, which is cultivated for its fruit. The garden pepper, Capsicum annuum, is a warm-season crop originally domesticated in Mexico. It is usually grown as an annual, although it may be perennial in warm climates. The vast majority of peppers that are grown in the United States belong to C. annuum. One notable exception is the "Tabasco" pepper, C. frutescens, which is grown in Louisiana. Other cultivated species, for example, C. chinense, C. baccatum, and C. pubescens, are grown primarily in South America and Central America. Some 10–12 strictly wild species also occur in South America. Peppers are grown worldwide, especially in the more tropical areas, where the pepper is an important condiment. Piper nigrum, the black pepper, is a tropical climbing vine and is botanically unrelated to the common pepper. See also: Fruit; Solanales; Spice and flavoring

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