C. galapagoense

Name: C. galapagoense
Brand: Fatalii Seeds
SKU: cgal
Price: 19.90 EUR
Availability: InStock

Plant size	M
Fruit Size	Tiny
Fruit color	Green, Red
Heat level	Heat 4 / 5

Price

~~25,90 €~~ 19,90 €

Rinsing the roots of a C. galapagoense bonchi

C. galapagoense bonchi with exposed roots

C. galapagoense woody trunk and hairy leaves of a bonchi plant

C. galapagoense pod in the palm of a hand, showing its tiny 5–7 mm size

C. galapagoense ripe red pod with hairy stalk, close-up

Description

There is exactly one wild chili that belongs to the Galapagos Islands, and this is it. C. galapagoense grows wild nowhere else on Earth: a low shrub living in the shade of bushes and small trees, from the dry lowlands up into the misty highlands. Every part of it is wrapped in dense, soft white hairs that give the whole plant a silvery sheen, and no other chili is covered quite like it.

The flowers are the smallest of any chili, white stars about 6 mm across, followed by round pods of only 5–7 mm that ripen from dark green to a glossy bright red. On my own plants the whole plant carries a strong scent, not just the leaves. The pods are very hot for their size, with a distinctive aroma. The islands have no culinary tradition for them, so use them as a collector would: crush a fresh pod over food, or dry a handful into a pinch of powder that goes a long way.

Alban Stewart first collected it on Isabela in 1906 and filed it under a different genus; it was only recognised as a chili in the 1950s. Today it is assessed as endangered in the wild, pressed by farmland, introduced plants and feral goats and pigs. This season there are only 70 packets.

Not a beginner’s chili. Seeds can be slow and erratic to wake up, and young plants may take their time before they flower and set pods. It comes from islands where sea fog often matters more than rain, so give it steady warmth, bright filtered light and humid air, and keep it away from cold and sudden temperature swings. Plants form bushy shrubs of about 50–120 cm, and the older stems turn woody and brown, which makes it a fascinating subject for bonchi; I have shaped several of my own plants into bonchis. Grow it as a perennial and bring it indoors for the winter.

Challenge: 2 (slow, erratic germination; can be shy to flower and set pods)

Some chilies are worth tasting before you grow them. → Explore the Vault

Each pack contains approximately 8–10 or more seeds per variety.
Seeds are packaged in a certified EU seed packaging facility in accordance with applicable regulations.

Categories: Chili Seeds , Wild chiles , Hot , Bonsai