Rocoto

Capsicum pubescens

Shrub2.5×3.5 mzone 9–11full sun

Will it grow where I live?

Rocoto is not winter-hardy in Central Europe (zone 9): outdoors from spring to autumn only, otherwise a container plant overwintered frost-free. It also needs warm summers – in Central Europe that means wine-growing regions, cities or a sheltered south-facing wall.

Or check it for your location right here:

Winter hardiness by USDA zone, summer warmth by heat sum – the same values the app and the plant finder use.

Profile

Family: Solanaceae
Habit: Shrub
Height: 2.5 m
Spread: 3.5 m
Growth: medium
Lifespan: 8 years
First yield: after 2 years
Hardiness: zone 9–11
Shade tolerance: full sun
Soil: Sand, Silt, Loam
Soil moisture: dry – moist
pH: 5.5 – 7

Uses

Edible5 of 10

Medicinal3 of 10

Other uses1 of 10

Frequently asked questions

Rocoto: how big does it get?

Rocoto (Capsicum pubescens) grows as a Shrub and reaches roughly 2.5 m in height when mature, with a spread of about 3.5 m. Growth is medium.

Rocoto: what site does it need?

Rocoto tolerates full sun. Suitable soils are Sand, Silt, Loam. Soil moisture should be in the range dry – moist. The pH may lie between 5.5 and 7.

Rocoto: is it hardy?

Rocoto is listed as hardy in zone 9–11 and survives normal winters outdoors there.

Rocoto: will it grow in Central Europe?

Rocoto: is it poisonous?

No toxicity is recorded for Rocoto. With wild plants, never rely on a database alone — only on a confident identification.

Rocoto: what is it used for?

Rated on a scale up to 10: Edible 5/10, Medicinal 3/10, Other uses 1/10.

Community experience

No first-hand reports for this plant yet.

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