Lineage: Wild-Harvested Texas Native | Soil: Organic Heritage Mineral Blend
Our Chile Pequin (Capsicum annuum) is an Artisan Grown testament to the bold spirit of Texas. Often called the "Bird Pepper Bush," this is the original, wild mother of almost all cultivated peppers. Unlike the fragile, greenhouse-pampered annual peppers found at big-box stores, our Chile Pequin is the original Texas pepper. Built for the rugged limestone crevices and the dappled shade of our hilltop draws, it is a tough-as-nails shrub that provides a year-round structural presence and a seasonal explosion of heat and color.
We begin with our surroundings. Every plant we grow starts from seeds hand-harvested from vigorous, wild-growing mature shrubs found tucked into the protective shade of the Live Oaks and Elms on our ranch. These wild specimens have survived record-breaking freezes and the most brutal August droughts. By selecting from these locally proven genetics, we ensure your Chile Pequin carries the "cellular memory" required to thrive in the specific mineral profile of the Dripping Springs and Austin corridor.
Chile Pequin is built for the struggle of the wild understory. We carefully collect the pepper, harvest the seeds, and sow our wild-harvested seeds directly into our outdoor silica sand propagation beds in summer and indoors in deep cell trays in a simulated hot and humid summer room over winter. Both methods are a "roots-first" approach forcing the young seedling to immediately prioritize a deep-diving, vertical root system. Only after they have established a robust, earth-seeking anchor are they carefully transitioned into our proprietary, mineral-dense organic soil.
As the strongest survivors transition into their final phase, they are potted into deep, air-pruning pots. This critical step uses the dry Texas air to naturally prune root tips, forcing the plant to develop a massive, hyper-fibrous root system without circling. Once potted, they “rest” under the dappled shade of our Texas Live Oak trees, mimicking their natural habitat while acclimating to our hilltop winds and heavy spring rains. This multi-phase approach ensures every Chile Pequin leaving our ranch has been "performance-tested" and is biologically prepared for a resilient, irrigation-free life once established.
A multi-functional, perennial sub-shrub that provides architecture structure, culinary fire, and vital wildlife support.
Culinary Fire: Produces thousands of tiny, oval peppers that pack a legendary punch (roughly 30,000–60,000 Scoville units). They are the prized ingredient for authentic Texas hot sauces, salsas, and "pequin vinegar."
The "Bird Pepper": As the name suggests, birds are immune to the heat and find the bright red berries irresistible. It is a premier choice for a bird-friendly landscape, acting as a high-octane fuel source for local songbirds.
Shade-Tolerant Structure: One of the few edible natives that truly excels in the dappled shade beneath large oaks, providing a lush, green fill for difficult understory spots.
Ornamental Drama: Its habit of simultaneously holding tiny white flowers, green peppers, and brilliant red ripe fruit makes it a stunning visual focal point from late spring through the first frost.
Field-grown, sun-hardened, and air-pruned. Delivered in a 4.5” Deep Square Pot with a vertical 5”, robust root system designed to anchor deep into our rocky Hill Country soil, ensuring it returns with more vigor and heat year after year.
Chile Pequin is remarkably adaptable. While it is famous for its shade tolerance, it can handle full sun in the Hill Country if given a bit more moisture. It is an "evergreen-ish" perennial; in a mild winter, it will hold its leaves, but in a hard freeze, it will die back to the ground only to return with massive vigor in the spring. Cut back dead wood in late February to make way for fresh growth.
To create a true hill country wildlife feast, plant your Chile Pequin near our Spineless Prickly Pear and Turk’s Cap. The bird-attracting properties of both plants will turn that section of your yard into a hill country sanctuary for local wildlife.
Lineage: Wild-Harvested Texas Native | Soil: Organic Heritage Mineral Blend
Our Chile Pequin (Capsicum annuum) is an Artisan Grown testament to the bold spirit of Texas. Often called the "Bird Pepper Bush," this is the original, wild mother of almost all cultivated peppers. Unlike the fragile, greenhouse-pampered annual peppers found at big-box stores, our Chile Pequin is the original Texas pepper. Built for the rugged limestone crevices and the dappled shade of our hilltop draws, it is a tough-as-nails shrub that provides a year-round structural presence and a seasonal explosion of heat and color.
We begin with our surroundings. Every plant we grow starts from seeds hand-harvested from vigorous, wild-growing mature shrubs found tucked into the protective shade of the Live Oaks and Elms on our ranch. These wild specimens have survived record-breaking freezes and the most brutal August droughts. By selecting from these locally proven genetics, we ensure your Chile Pequin carries the "cellular memory" required to thrive in the specific mineral profile of the Dripping Springs and Austin corridor.
Chile Pequin is built for the struggle of the wild understory. We carefully collect the pepper, harvest the seeds, and sow our wild-harvested seeds directly into our outdoor silica sand propagation beds in summer and indoors in deep cell trays in a simulated hot and humid summer room over winter. Both methods are a "roots-first" approach forcing the young seedling to immediately prioritize a deep-diving, vertical root system. Only after they have established a robust, earth-seeking anchor are they carefully transitioned into our proprietary, mineral-dense organic soil.
As the strongest survivors transition into their final phase, they are potted into deep, air-pruning pots. This critical step uses the dry Texas air to naturally prune root tips, forcing the plant to develop a massive, hyper-fibrous root system without circling. Once potted, they “rest” under the dappled shade of our Texas Live Oak trees, mimicking their natural habitat while acclimating to our hilltop winds and heavy spring rains. This multi-phase approach ensures every Chile Pequin leaving our ranch has been "performance-tested" and is biologically prepared for a resilient, irrigation-free life once established.
A multi-functional, perennial sub-shrub that provides architecture structure, culinary fire, and vital wildlife support.
Culinary Fire: Produces thousands of tiny, oval peppers that pack a legendary punch (roughly 30,000–60,000 Scoville units). They are the prized ingredient for authentic Texas hot sauces, salsas, and "pequin vinegar."
The "Bird Pepper": As the name suggests, birds are immune to the heat and find the bright red berries irresistible. It is a premier choice for a bird-friendly landscape, acting as a high-octane fuel source for local songbirds.
Shade-Tolerant Structure: One of the few edible natives that truly excels in the dappled shade beneath large oaks, providing a lush, green fill for difficult understory spots.
Ornamental Drama: Its habit of simultaneously holding tiny white flowers, green peppers, and brilliant red ripe fruit makes it a stunning visual focal point from late spring through the first frost.
Field-grown, sun-hardened, and air-pruned. Delivered in a 4.5” Deep Square Pot with a vertical 5”, robust root system designed to anchor deep into our rocky Hill Country soil, ensuring it returns with more vigor and heat year after year.
Chile Pequin is remarkably adaptable. While it is famous for its shade tolerance, it can handle full sun in the Hill Country if given a bit more moisture. It is an "evergreen-ish" perennial; in a mild winter, it will hold its leaves, but in a hard freeze, it will die back to the ground only to return with massive vigor in the spring. Cut back dead wood in late February to make way for fresh growth.
To create a true hill country wildlife feast, plant your Chile Pequin near our Spineless Prickly Pear and Turk’s Cap. The bird-attracting properties of both plants will turn that section of your yard into a hill country sanctuary for local wildlife.
Our plants are intentionally cultivated to be site-adapted and focus their energy on growing larger, faster, and healthier below ground so they can take-off above ground once planted. All plants are grown to prioritize dense, downward-oriented root systems that allow rapid establishment in non-irrigated, deer-pressured landscapes.
Water and cage until established. Even for deer resistant plants, expect browsing, especially during drought — survival comes from the roots.
