Capsicum chinense

Available for purchase from 1 July 2025  

The Purple Carolina Reaper is a blazing hot chilli with a dramatic twist of colour and pedigree. Originating from a spontaneous Brazilian cross discovered by Carlos Jr. Lolo, this variety is a rare offshoot of the notorious Carolina Reaper. Its fruits start off a rich purple, shifting through streaks of green and purple, and eventually ripening to a deep, dark red.  It has certainly captured attention for its stunning appearance and ferocious heat.

This chilli is not for the faint of heart. With a Scoville rating of around 1.5 to 1.6 million, the Purple Carolina Reaper delivers intense heat with a slightly sweeter and fruitier edge compared to the original Reaper. The pods are ideal for crafting extreme hot sauces, drying for powders, or for using sparingly in dishes where maximum heat is desired. Gloves are essential when handling the fruit.

Start seeds indoors during late winter, planting them 5mm deep in a warm, sterile Germination Mix. Maintain a steady temperature between 27 and 30°C using a Germination Heating Pad. Light is critical once the seeds sprout, so use strong grow lights or a bright windowsill to prevent leggy growth.

Once all danger of frost has passed and nighttime temperatures remain consistently above 15°C, transplant seedlings into well-composted soil in full sun. These plants thrive with regular watering and benefit from staking as the heavy pods develop. Fruits take over 120 days to reach full maturity, with colour shifts marking their ripening stages.

While generally considered an unstable variety, Livingseeds has managed to isolate through selection a pretty stable phenotype. The Purple Carolina Reaper is a favourite among chilli growers for its unique colour, outrageous heat, and the thrill of growing something truly out of the ordinary.

Standard Packet 10 seeds