• Two long purple Buena Mulata chili peppers on a wooden surface, showcasing their vibrant color and shape.
  • Buena Mulata chili peppers growing on a plant, showcasing vibrant red and purple pods against green leaves.
  • Buena Mulata chili peppers in various colors hanging from a plant against a light background.
  • Red Buena Mulata chilli pepper hanging on a plant with green leaves against a light backdrop.
  • Vibrant Buena Mulata chillies growing on a plant, showcasing long, slender pods and lush green leaves.
  • Purple and red Buena Mulata chillies growing on a plant, showcasing their vibrant colors and slender shape.
  • Buena Mulata chilli plant with long, slender pods in vibrant red and purple, thriving against a white backdrop.
  • Buena Mulata chili plant featuring long purple and red pods, cultivated in a pot against a white wooden backdrop.
  • Buena Mulata chillies showcasing red and purple pods on a vibrant green plant, emphasizing their unique colors and shapes.
  • Colorful Buena Mulata chili peppers, showcasing red and purple pods, growing on a plant against a neutral background.
  • Fresh Buena Mulata chili peppers hanging on a plant, showcasing their vibrant purple and red colors.
  • Purple Buena Mulata chili peppers growing on a lush plant, showcasing vibrant colors and a healthy appearance.
  • Close-up of Buena Mulata chili pods, showcasing their slender purple appearance among green leaves in the garden.
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Bishy Barnabees Cottage Garden

Buena Mulata Chilli

£1.99
£1.99
Tax included.

The Buena Mulata chilli pepper is a rare and striking heirloom variety, prized for its exceptional beauty and culinary versatility. This pepper is believed to have been preserved and shared by African American folk artist Horace Pippin, making it historically significant as well. The plants are highly ornamental, with lavender-purple flowers, purple stems, and vibrant pods that transition from deep purple to orange, then vivid red when ripe. Despite its slender appearance, Buena Mulata packs a medium heat of about 30,000–50,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), making it ideal for fresh use, pickling, and drying.

The Buena Mulata chilli is a rare heirloom that combines stunning ornamental appeal with real culinary value. Its breath taking colour shift from purple to red, medium heat level, and excellent flavour make it a favourite. Easy to grow in beds or containers, it’s a beautiful and productive addition to any chilli garden.

Quantity of Seeds 10 seeds per packet
Origin Mexico
Genus Capsicum Annuum
Scoville Rating/Heat Level Medium heat, typically 30,000–50,000 SHU, similar to cayenne peppers.
Plant Size Typically 60–90 cm (24–36 inches).  Upright and branching; very ornamental.  Green to slightly purple-tinted leaves; stems and leaf veins often have a striking purple colour.  Gorgeous lavender to violet-purple flowers, adding ornamental value.
Pod Size

Slim, slightly curved pods, about 10–15 cm (4–6 inches) long and 0.6–1 cm (¼–½ inch) in diameter.  Starts deep purple → transitions to orange → finishes bright red at full maturity.  Thin-walled, crisp, and crunchy when fresh.
Flavour Fruity, slightly smoky, and complex with a medium, sharp heat — excellent for fresh eating, pickling, stir-frying, or drying.  Perfect for fresh use in salsas and salads, for pickling, as a dried chilli powder, or as a striking garnish. Its eye-catching colour also makes it a popular ornamental edible.
Growing Conditions

Plant seeds about ¼ inch (0.5 cm) deep in a fine, well-draining seed-starting mix.  Sow seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before the last frost date.  Maintain soil temperatures of 24–28°C (75–82°F), ideally using a heat mat for consistent warmth.  Cover trays with a clear plastic dome to maintain humidity; remove the dome briefly each day for ventilation.  When seedlings have 4–6 true leaves and night time temperatures stay above 15°C (59°F), harden them off for 7–10 days before transplanting outside.  Space plants about 45–60 cm (18–24 inches) apart to allow for good airflow.  Keep soil consistently moist but not soggy. Let the top inch dry slightly between waterings to prevent root rot.  Apply a balanced fertilizer (such as 10-10-10) every 3–4 weeks during the growing season, or use a liquid feed every 2–3 weeks, particularly when flowering and fruiting.

All plants are grown on our farm in Norfolk, UK and are grown in an open pollinated area.
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    Two long purple Buena Mulata chili peppers on a wooden surface, showcasing their vibrant color and shape.
    Buena Mulata chili peppers growing on a plant, showcasing vibrant red and purple pods against green leaves.
    Buena Mulata chili peppers in various colors hanging from a plant against a light background.
    Red Buena Mulata chilli pepper hanging on a plant with green leaves against a light backdrop.
    Vibrant Buena Mulata chillies growing on a plant, showcasing long, slender pods and lush green leaves.
    Purple and red Buena Mulata chillies growing on a plant, showcasing their vibrant colors and slender shape.
    Buena Mulata chilli plant with long, slender pods in vibrant red and purple, thriving against a white backdrop.
    Buena Mulata chili plant featuring long purple and red pods, cultivated in a pot against a white wooden backdrop.
    Buena Mulata chillies showcasing red and purple pods on a vibrant green plant, emphasizing their unique colors and shapes.
    Colorful Buena Mulata chili peppers, showcasing red and purple pods, growing on a plant against a neutral background.
    Fresh Buena Mulata chili peppers hanging on a plant, showcasing their vibrant purple and red colors.
    Purple Buena Mulata chili peppers growing on a lush plant, showcasing vibrant colors and a healthy appearance.
    Close-up of Buena Mulata chili pods, showcasing their slender purple appearance among green leaves in the garden.