• Bishops Crown Chilli plant with unique three-sided red pods growing in a garden.
  • Bishops Crown Chilli plant with red, three-sided pods resembling a bishop’s crown, growing against a white wall.
  • Bishops Crown Chilli plant with vibrant red and green three-sided pods resembling a bishop’s crown in a garden setting.
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Bishy Barnabees Cottage Garden

Bishops Crown Chilli

£1.99
£1.99
Tax included.

The Bishop’s Crown chilli (Capsicum baccatum), also known as Christmas Bell, Joker’s Hat, Friar’s Hat, or Campanella, is a uniquely shaped chilli with a distinctive three-lobed “hat” or “crown” shape, resembling a bishop’s miter. It is moderately hot, with a pleasant fruity, slightly tangy flavour and an unusual mild-to-medium heat level (5,000–30,000 SHU). Native to South America, especially Peru and Brazil, this chilli is loved for its ornamental appeal and culinary versatility.

The Bishop’s Crown chilli is a stunning, easy-to-grow chilli pepper that combines striking looks with excellent productivity and a delightful mild-to-medium heat. With its sweet, fruity flavour and unique shape, it’s as much a conversation piece as it is a culinary gem. Given proper care and warmth, this plant will reward you with baskets of colourful, bell-shaped chillies from summer into autumn.

Quantity of Seeds 10 seeds per packet
Origin South America
Genus Capsicum Baccatum
Scoville Rating/Heat Level Mild to medium, around 5,000–30,000 SHU. Heat tends to concentrate in the central portion, with the lobes often very mild.
Plant Size Typically 70–150 cm (28–60 inches). Tall, bushy, and branching with an open structure.  Medium-to-large, pale green leaves with a somewhat drooping appearance.  White with yellow-green spots — typical of baccatum species.
Pod Size

Unique three-lobed, bell-like shape, like a bishop’s crown or hat; pods are about 3–6 cm (1–2.5 inches) wide.  Green → light green → bright red when fully mature.  Thick-walled, crunchy, and juicy when fresh.
Flavour Fruity, sweet, slightly tangy, and citrus-like with mild heat — excellent for eating fresh, stuffing, or using in salsas and sauces.  Ideal for fresh eating, stuffing, grilling, pickling, or making sweet-spicy sauces. The unique shape also makes it popular as a decorative garnish.
Growing Conditions

Sow seeds ¼ inch (0.5 cm) deep in a fine, moist seed-starting mix.  Start seeds indoors 8–12 weeks before the last frost date.  Maintain soil temperature at 24–30°C (75–86°F); use a heat mat if needed.  Keep humidity high with a plastic dome or bag, venting daily to avoid mold.  Baccatum species germinate more slowly — usually 14–28 days, sometimes up to 35 days, so be patient!  Transplant when seedlings have 4–6 true leaves and temperatures consistently stay above 15°C (59°F). Harden off gradually before planting outdoors.  Space plants 60–90 cm (24–36 inches) apart; Bishop’s Crown can become quite large and bushy.  Use a balanced fertilizer (e.g., 10-10-10) during early growth; switch to a bloom booster (higher in potassium and phosphorus) when flowering starts to encourage fruiting.  Plants can grow up to 1.5 m (5 ft) tall and become top-heavy when loaded with fruit, so staking or a tomato cage is often helpful.

All plants are grown on our farm in Norfolk, UK and are grown in an open pollinated area.
        Bishops Crown Chilli plant with unique three-sided red pods growing in a garden.
        Bishops Crown Chilli plant with red, three-sided pods resembling a bishop’s crown, growing against a white wall.
        Bishops Crown Chilli plant with vibrant red and green three-sided pods resembling a bishop’s crown in a garden setting.