Bishop's Crown
Capsicum baccatum — 5,000–15,000 SHU
Bishop's Crown — also called Christmas Bell or Joker's Hat — is the most visually distinctive pepper variety in existence. Named for its three-winged shape that resembles a bishop's mitre, it produces striking red fruits with a sweet, mild outer section (the wings) surrounding a hotter central core. Native to Barbados, it is now grown across South America and Europe as both a culinary and ornamental plant.
🔥 Heat Scale
🌱 How to Grow Bishop's Crown
8+ hours daily. Caribbean native — loves intense sun. The distinctive three-winged shape develops best in optimal warm conditions.
22–32°C ideal. From Barbados — prefers genuine tropical warmth. A greenhouse significantly improves performance in cooler climates.
Consistent moisture throughout the long season. The plant needs steady water supply to develop its distinctive large, complex fruits fully.
15–20L pot minimum. A tall, vigorous Baccatum plant that rewards generous root space with heavier fruiting.
Weekly high-potassium tomato feed from first flower. Good nutrition is essential for the full development of the distinctive fruit shape.
Strongly recommended — second-year plants fruit far more prolifically. The long-season tropical nature means overwintering is essential for best results in the UK.
🩺 Common Problems
Cause: Suboptimal growing conditions — insufficient warmth or light reduces wing extension
Fix: Maximise warmth and sun. Greenhouse conditions produce the most dramatic wing development.
Cause: Baccatum characteristic — the family invests more in root development in year one
Fix: Year two plants are dramatically more productive. Overwintering is strongly recommended.
Cause: Heavy fruit load on tall stems can cause the plant to lean or topple
Fix: Stake early before fruiting — bamboo canes and soft ties before flowers appear.
Cause: Hot dry conditions, especially in greenhouse settings during mid-summer
Fix: Increase humidity around plants, neem oil spray weekly, introduce predatory mites
❓ Common Questions
Where does the three-wing shape come from?
A genetic characteristic unique to this variety — each wing contains sweet, thin flesh with much lower capsaicin than the central ribbed section. The shape resembles a bishop's mitre.
Is the heat evenly distributed?
No — outer wings are sweet and mild, the central section around the seeds is hotter. A unique pepper offering a heat gradient within a single fruit.
What are the different names for it?
Joker's Hat (Denmark), Christmas Bell (South America), Monk's Cap (some regions). Same pepper, different regional names across Europe and Latin America.
How do I use it in cooking?
Sweet wings are excellent raw in salads, stuffed with cream cheese, or as a garnish. Roasted whole, the wings caramelise while the centre provides heat. Stunning in Latin American cooking.
