Umbillicatetum Seeds - 7 pcs

Umbillicatum is a wild hot pepper of the Capsicum baccatum species, described as a progenitor of all peppers with a characteristic lantern shape. Fruits ripen from green to bright red and offer mild to moderate heat between 5 000 and 50 000 SHU. The plant grows vigorously in width, tolerates light cold spells and is especially interesting to collectors and enthusiasts of wild Capsicum forms.

Umbillicatum is interesting not so much for extreme heat, but for its wild origin and connection to lantern-shaped peppers. The plant develops into a broad bush and can tolerate some light frost.

For more reliable overwintering, grow the plant as a container plant that can be moved to a protected place. More substantial pruning is also appropriate before winter, as plants spread considerably in width.

Variety characteristics

• Variety: Umbillicatum
• Botanical species: Capsicum baccatum
• Type: Wild hot pepper
• Heat: 5 000–50 000 SHU
• Fruit colour: Green → bright red
• Heat level: Mild to medium-hot
• Growth: Strongly branched and broad
• Cold tolerance: Tolerates light cold spells / light frost
• Overwintering: Suitable in a pot in a protected place
• Pruning: Recommended before winter
• Special feature: Indicated as the original wild form of lantern-shaped peppers.

🔥 Heat

5 000–50 000 SHU

The range is quite broad, from pleasantly spicy to noticeably hot fruits. We classify the pepper as mild to medium-hot, with an official range of 5 000–50 000 Scoville units.

🌱 Sowing and growing

Sowing: January – April
Location: indoors
Germination temperature: 20–30°C
Greenhouse: for higher yields
Planting outdoors: around the end of May
Growth: broad and strongly branched
Pruning: recommended for size control and before overwintering.

A notable feature is its relatively good cold tolerance. Plants can tolerate light frost, but for reliable winter protection they are best grown in pots and moved to a protected place.

🪴 Suitable for overwintering

Unlike the standard annual cultivation of peppers in our climate, Umbillicatum can be kept for the following season.

Before winter, the plant can be pruned, moved into a pot and placed somewhere protected from severe cold. This is particularly practical for this variety because plants naturally spread considerably in width.

🍴 Culinary use

The fruits can be used fresh or added to hot sauces, salsa, marinades and spicy dishes. Due to the wide range of 5 000–50 000 SHU, assess the heat of the specific crop before using a larger quantity.

💡 Urban Botaniks tip: With Umbillicatum, I would emphasise its wild origin, connection to lantern-shaped peppers and potential for overwintering. These are the characteristics that truly distinguish the variety. If keeping the plant for next season, prune it before winter and move it into a pot in a place protected from severe cold.