Pockmark Orange
A striking Australian Capsicum chinense hybrid of Ghost pepper and Pimenta de Neyde, featuring thin-walled pods that ripen from black-purple to pockmarked orange resembling molten lava, with heat around 1 million SHU and fruity-earthy flavor.
Growing
~100 days to maturity
Fruit size
3.5–5 cm
Flavor & Use
Fruity with peach, citrus, and mild earthy undertones, plus floral notes from the Ghost parentage; initial sweetness gives way to intense heat.
Culinary
About
The Pockmark Orange produces gnarly, warty pods measuring roughly 3.5–5 cm long that begin dark green or nearly black, shift through purple tones, and mature to bright orange with purple blushes, giving a molten-lava appearance. Thin-walled and highly productive on dark-foliaged plants 60–90 cm tall, it delivers intense heat comparable to the Ghost pepper alongside a unique fruity flavor with earthy, citrus, and peach notes. Excellent for ornamental value as well as culinary use in sauces and powders. The cross can still show some instability.
Backstory
Bred in Australia by Jason Richards from a cross of Bhut Jolokia (Ghost pepper) and Pimenta de Neyde, and named by Alice Lennard for the distinctive pitted, pockmarked surface of the fruit. It has become popular among collectors for its dramatic color changes and ornamental dark foliage.
Appearance
Growing
Heritage
We don't have a documented family for this pepper yet.