VegetablePepper
Cayenne Espana Pepper
Cayenne Espana is a hybrid pepper that delivers genuine heat without overwhelming the palate, reaching maturity in just 60 to 69 days from transplant. This Spanish-bred variety produces upright plants 2 to 3 feet tall laden with mild-to-moderately hot fruit measuring 7 inches long, perfect for gardeners in zones 4 through 13 who want reliable production without the burn. With a concentrated fruit set and medium-thick flesh, it's built for both fresh frying and cooking applications where you want flavor, not fire.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
4-13
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Organic Matter
Growth Stats
36 in
Height
TypeUpright
Spacing
18
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
4-13
Size
36in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
Low
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Highlights
Cayenne Espana offers the rare advantage of genuine cayenne heat calibrated for everyday cooking rather than extreme spice, sitting at 1,000 to 2,000 Scoville Heat Units. The compact upright growth habit and rapid maturity make it remarkably productive even in short growing seasons, while the thick-walled peppers hold their shape beautifully when fried or added to simmering dishes. Its concentrated fruit set means abundant harvest from relatively modest plant size, and the pendant-hanging fruit hangs at eye level for easy picking.
Common Uses
Cayenne Espana peppers are at their best when sliced fresh and fried until the skin blisters, or chopped into stews and sauces where their pungent heat and medium-thick flesh add body and warmth without overwhelming other ingredients. The 7-inch length makes them manageable for stuffing or roasting whole, and their predictable, moderate heat level makes them kitchen workhorses rather than novelties.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost, planting them 1/4 inch deep in warm, moist soil kept at 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Germination typically occurs in 7 to 14 days. Maintain consistent moisture and provide bright light once seedlings emerge.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost date when nighttime temperatures reliably stay above 50 degrees Fahrenheit and soil has warmed to at least 60 degrees. Harden off plants by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days before moving them to their permanent location.
Harvesting
Harvest peppers 60 to 69 days after transplanting when they reach their full 7-inch length and have developed their characteristic color and pungent flavor. Peppers can be picked at any stage of ripeness, from green to fully mature. Snip fruit from the plant with pruners rather than pulling to avoid damaging branches, as the pendant-hanging growth habit makes the peppers easy to access at a comfortable working height.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Capsicum annuum
Family
Solanaceae
Genus
Capsicum
Growth Habit
Upright
Native Status
L48 (NI)HI (I)PR (I)VI (I)