African Birds Eye Chilli Seeds – Cultivate 100% Mythical, Fiery, and Legendary Piri‑Piri Power!
Price range: R29.95 through R49.95
🌶️ African Birds Eye Chilli Seeds – Cultivate 100% Mythical, Fiery Piri‑Piri Power!
Invite a burst of tropical heat into your garden with African Birds Eye chilli seeds. Originating from the tropical climates of West and East Africa, these potent peppers offer a stunning combination of ornamental flair and bold flavor—perfect for adventurous cooks and passionate growers alike.
🌱 Variety
Also known as Piri Piri, Pili Pili, or African Devil, the African Birds Eye is a classic Capsicum frutescens variety. Unlike its Capsicum annuum cousins, this chili is upright-growing and thin-walled, offering both vibrancy and versatility in its compact form.
🔬 Species
Belonging to Capsicum frutescens, this species includes Tabasco and Malagueta peppers. While related to bell pepper relatives, its heat and aroma set it apart. Frutescens peppers are celebrated for intense heat, thinner walls, and prolific yields .
🌍 Origin
Despite its roots in Central and South America, African Birds Eye pepper found its true home in Africa when Portuguese sailors introduced it in the 16th century. Today, it thrives across Malawi, Ethiopia, Uganda, Ghana, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, both in the wild and on smallholder farms .
🧬 Hybridizer (if applicable)
As a traditional landrace rather than a modern hybrid, this chili has been selectively cultivated by farmers for generations. Endemic to varied regions of Africa, traits like vigorous growth, prolific fruiting, and intense flavor have been naturally refined rather than engineered by breeders (chili-plants.com).
🎯 Description
These chilies produce upright pods that measure approximately 2–3 cm long, tapering to a blunt tip. They shift in color from lime-green to bright red, sometimes even showing a little purple beforehand, and they pepper the plant in clusters—transforming it into a fiery spectacle. The foliage is lush and supportive of the heavy fruit loads, giving the plant a bushy, trimmed look visible even from a distance .
Their flavor is explosively bold: a fruity, peppery punch that builds fast but stays rounded and complex—a bold twist on classic chili sensation.
🌿 Plant Size
African Bird’s Eye peppers grow into compact, bushy plants, reaching 45–120 cm (1.5–4 ft) depending on region and growing conditions. Their upright pod formation makes them stunning container or garden specimens, while offering high yields even in small spaces (Magic Plant Farms).
🌡️ Pungency
These chilies deliver serious heat—Very Hot (or even approaching Superhot in some regional strains). They typically fall between 165,000–190,000 SHU, although individual specimens have registered up to 210,000 SHU (alamopeppers.com).
🌱 Grow Difficulty
Rated Easy to Moderate, they are suitable for both beginners and garden veterans:
- Germination: Seeds sprout within 7–14 days at 25–30 °C using consistent warmth and moisture.
- Transplanting: Once frost passes, plant in full sun, using fertile, well-drained soil.
- Care: Regular watering and a balanced fertilizer regime support prolific fruit development.
- Support: While generally self-supporting, small stakes can support heavy clusters.
- Environmental resilience: With natural adaptation to heat, humidity, and varying rainfall, this pepper thrives in many climates, including seasonally dry or coastal areas .
⏳ Days to Germination
Expect emergence within 7–14 days, though cooler conditions may extend this to about 20 days.
🌾 Days to Harvest After Transplant
Pods usually begin to ripen between 90–120 days post-transplant. However, factors like sunlight and temperature can shift this period slightly .
🍽️ Culinary Uses
With its strong heat and fruity aroma, African Bird’s Eye pepper is a culinary powerhouse:
- Piri Piri / Peri Peri sauces: The classic star of spicy Mozambican and Portuguese sauces.
- Soups & stews: A little goes a long way—adds bold presence.
- Marinades & hot rubs: Intense fruity heat makes it ideal for chicken, seafood, and game.
- Pickles & hot oils: Preserves shape and color beautifully in oils or brines.
- Finishing spice: Crushed or flaked, it tops salads, tacos, and chili dishes with flair.
- Medicinal use: Known for digestive relief and topical pain-soothing effects (use gloves!) (Magic Plant Farms).
🌟 Why Grow African Bird’s Eye?
- Bold heat & fruit flavor—serious spice without losing taste.
- Ornamental excellence—eye-catching upright pods and compact growth.
- Environmentally resilient—naturally thrives in variable climates.
- Culinary versatility—perfect for sauces, pickles, or dried flakes.
- Cultural heritage—a connection to African culinary tradition with every harvest.
🚀 Ignite Your Garden & Kitchen!
Enhance your home harvest with African Birds Eye Chilli Seeds—a fiery, flavorful, and historically rich pepper variety. Cultivate these compact powerhouses for thrilling visual shows and mind-blowing spice adventures. Plant today and unleash vibrant heat!
Additional information
| Weight | 0.001 kg |
|---|---|
| Seed Pack Size | 10 Seeds, 5 Seeds |






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