Birds Eye
Tiny Pods, Big Punch

Birds Eye Chilli Plug Plant

Birds Eye Chilli Plug Plant

Tiny but deadly, watch out! Heat Level: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

The Superhot Birdseye was one of the chillies I test drove a few years back with an eye to adding to our collection.

To be honest, I didn't expect that much from it as it wasn't very imaginatively named. To my very pleasant surprise, it grew quite large and was very easy to care for.

The plants were bushy, green, and ornamental, and they produced hundreds of really hot little chillies. The pods were very similar to Piri Piri, only with a blunter end.

The taste was the best surprise of all and quickly made it one of my favourite chillies for the year. Hot and fruity, with a definite flavour of apricot, it added a unique dimension to my dishes. After an accidental breakage, I took to cutting a few sprigs of the Birdseye for a little vase on my kitchen table.

They looked really pretty and stayed perky and fresh for the best part of a month. With a heat level around 100,000 Scoville Heat Units, this chilli not only impresses with its taste but also enhances your home décor.

A classic southern African Chilli, the Birds Eye is extremely similar to Piri Piri Chilli.

Additional Information

▶ Species: Capsicum frutescens

▶ Heat Level: Hot – typically around 100,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU). Delivers a fiery kick in small doses.

▶ Vigorous Growth: Compact, bushy plants with dense foliage. Highly ornamental and impressively prolific, often bearing dozens of upright pods at once.

▶ Fruit Appearance: Small, upright pods that ripen from green to bright red. Slightly blunter than Piri Piri, with a neat, bullet-like shape.

▶ Flavour Profile: Hot and fruity with a subtle apricot note. Sharp, clean heat that lifts sauces, stir-fries, and condiments.

▶ Uses: Perfect for hot sauces, pickling, and Southeast Asian dishes. Also ideal as an edible ornamental — cut stems can last fresh in a vase for weeks.

▶ Growing Conditions: Grows well in pots, raised beds, or greenhouses. Prefers a warm, sunny spot with free-draining soil. Easy to grow and reliable.

▶ How to Grow Chillies: My free 28-page booklet, "How to Grow Chillies," is included with every plant or seed order to help you achieve a successful harvest.

Coir Blocks

Classic Hots

Record-breakers

Cooks' Collection

World of Chillies was set up by Sarah Hunt in 2011 to promote chilli growing and the enjoyment of everything hot and spicy.

UK Company No. 07860204.
VAT reg. 223126942

▶ 1. Easy to Grow: Some chillies are just a joy to grow — compact, reliable, and happy in a pot (5). Others shoot off in all directions or sulk at the first sign of wind (1). I’ve given higher scores to the ones that do well here in the UK.

▶ 2. Ornamental Quality: A few of these are real show-offs, with pods that look like jewels or dramatic foliage that turns heads. Others are more practical than pretty. This score is just about how good they look on the patio or in the greenhouse.

▶ 3. Heat Level: This isn’t a technical SHU score — it’s just a kitchen-friendly 1 to 5. A 1 means very mild (like a jalapeño), a 5 is properly hot (think Bhut Jolokia). It should help you judge what you’re in for!

▶ 4. Hardiness: How well do they cope with our unpredictable summers? I’ve given higher scores to the tough ones that keep going through cool nights, wind, or patchy weather without much fuss.

▶ 5. Culinary Use: This one’s about how often I actually use them. Some are perfect for pickling, stuffing or powders — others look good but don’t end up in many meals. If it’s flavourful and versatile, it scores high.

Hover or touch to pause carousel