Chilli
Capsicum annuum
Also called Chili pepper, Sweet pepper and Capsicum
Garden plant · Herbs, veg & fruitHeat comes from stress, not kindness — keep it warm, sunny and a little lean.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Hard
- Water
- Every 3 daysWater the ground — water at the base, in the morning, not over the leaves.
- Light
- Full sun
- Feed
- Every 10 days
- Humidity
- Average
- Hardiness
- Indoors, or out for the summer RHS H1C, to 5°C
- Size
- 0.75 m tall · 0.3 m across
- Lifecycle
- Annual
- Origin
- Central and South America
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsNothing recorded against it
No animal-poison authority lists this plant either way.
PeopleIrritates skin
Fruit (capsaicin). Safe to eat: ripe fruit.
HandlingTake care handling it
Capsaicin stays on the fingers and stings eyes for hours.
Checked against ASPCA, RHS, Johnny's Selected Seeds and Clemson HGIC on 2026-07-31.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
First signs of trouble
- A fine pale stippling over the upper leaf that will not wipe off, and webbing strung between the leaf stalk and the stem when held to the light.Glasshouse red spider mite · pest
- Clusters of green or black specks on the growing tip and the unopened flower buds, with a sticky shine on the leaves under them.Aphid · pest
- Open flowers snap off cleanly at the stalk during a hot dry spell, leaving no fruit behind — heat and a dry root, not a pest.Blossom drop · disorder