Plant Characteristics

Measuring between 1,200,000 to over 2,000,000 on the Scoville (SHU) scale, the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion pepper is one of the hottest peppers in the world. The golf ball-sized peppers are 2-3 inches long and have bumpy, wrinkled skin. They ripen from green to a shiny red and feature a pointy, curled tip that resembles a scorpion's stinger. Despite the extreme heat, the Trinidad Moruga Scorpion offers a surprisingly sweet and fruity flavor. The heat doesn't hit all at once, instead it has a creeping burn that intensifies over several minutes. Their sweet and fiery nature makes them ideal for extreme hot sauces, salsas, and dry powders. It is important to remember to wear gloves when handling these peppers, as the capsaicin oil can burn skin and eyes. Bushy and sturdy plants grow vigorously to about 3 to 4 feet tall in open containers or ground. Mature plants can develop a woody, tree-like base if grown as a perennial in tropical climates. Intense full sun is vital for the plant's growth, pepper yield, and maximizing the capsaicin heat. Considered a super-late variety, typically taking 120 to 150 days to mature.