Manzano Orange
Capsicum pubescens — 75,000–200,000 SHU
Manzano (Spanish for "apple") is a Capsicum pubescens variety from the highlands of Mexico and Central America — producing round, apple-shaped orange fruits with the distinctive black seeds of all Pubescens peppers. Like its Andean Rocoto cousins, it thrives in cool conditions and performs exceptionally well in UK outdoor growing. Sweet, fruity, and genuinely hot.
🔥 Heat Scale
🌱 How to Grow Manzano Orange
Uniquely tolerates partial shade. Mexican mountain origin means it thrives in cool, misty conditions — suitable for less sunny spots where most peppers would fail.
Prefers 15–22°C. Like Rocoto, it drops flowers above 30°C. One of few hot peppers genuinely suited to UK outdoor growing without a greenhouse.
More tolerant of consistent moisture than most peppers. The highland Mexican habitat is cooler and damper than tropical lowlands — reflect this in watering.
20–25L pot or planted in the ground. A large, potentially long-lived plant — give it permanent space if growing in the ground.
Monthly balanced feed. Less demanding than tropical peppers — excessive feeding encourages vegetative growth at the expense of fruiting.
Essential — Pubescens peppers are perennial and dramatically more productive in years two and three. Bring indoors to a cool room (not warm) through winter.
🩺 Common Problems
Cause: Above 28°C, all Pubescens peppers abort their flowers — the opposite of most pepper species
Fix: Grow outdoors in UK summer. Move to shade during heatwaves. Do not use a hot greenhouse.
Cause: Capsicum pubescens is the slowest-germinating pepper species — 4–8 weeks normal
Fix: Sow December/January, heat mat at 28°C, fresh high-quality seeds, patience essential
Cause: Long season and cool conditions mean fruits at different stages coexist on the plant
Fix: Normal for Pubescens — harvest at full colour, leave others to continue ripening
Cause: All Capsicum pubescens have black seeds — a defining genetic characteristic, not a defect
Fix: Completely normal — black seeds are unique to and characteristic of all Pubescens varieties
❓ Common Questions
What is Manzano pepper?
A Capsicum pubescens from highland Mexico — apple-shaped fruits with black seeds. Widely eaten in Mexican highland markets, fried with onions or used fresh in salsas.
How hot is Manzano Orange?
75,000–200,000 SHU — Habanero territory. The thick walls provide some initial insulation, but the total capsaicin is substantial.
Does it prefer cool weather?
Yes — native to Mexican highlands where nights are cool. Thrives outdoors in UK conditions. Drops flowers above 30°C — do not put in a warm greenhouse.
What does it taste like?
Sweet, fruity, and meaty due to thick walls. The orange colour indicates a fruitier character. Commonly eaten fresh in Mexico or fried with tomatoes and onions.
