vegetable variety
Cayenne
Hot Pepper · Capsicum species
USDA hardiness range
- Zones
- 5a–9a
- Days to harvest
- 70 to 110
- Sun
- Full
- Water
- Moderate
- Lifespan
- annual
At a glance
Sharp clean heat (30,000-50,000 SHU), thin red pod; drying, ground powder, sauces. Productive, easy to dry on the plant or strung in ristras.
Growing Cayenne
Detailed guidance for this section is being prepared. Check back soon.
Flavor, texture, and use
Detailed guidance for this section is being prepared. Check back soon.
Growing notes
Detailed guidance for this section is being prepared. Check back soon.
Cayenne by zone
Zone-specific suitability, frost timing, and adjacent-zone notes.
Other hot pepper varieties
4 sibling cultivars profiled on ZonePlant.
- Habanero
Searing heat (100,000-350,000 SHU) with tropical-fruit notes; lantern-shaped orange pepper. Hot sauces, salsas…
- Jalapeño
Medium heat (2,500-8,000 SHU), grassy-bright flavor; thick-walled green pepper. Fresh, pickled, smoked into ch…
- Poblano
Mild-medium heat (1,000-2,000 SHU) with rich earthy flavor; large dark green wall. Stuffed (chiles rellenos), …
- Thai Hot
Sharp clean heat (50,000-100,000 SHU), small red upright pods; drying, fresh in stir-fry, infused oils. Compac…
Frequently asked questions
- What zones does the Cayenne hot pepper grow in?
Cayenne grows in USDA zones 5a through 9a.
- How does Cayenne compare to other hot pepper varieties?
Cayenne is one of 5 hot pepper varieties profiled on ZonePlant. See the full hot pepper variety table for side-by-side comparison.
+−
+−
Image: "Capsicum annuum var. Fiesta - MHNT", by PierreSelim, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC-BY Source.
Related