Packet: Minimum 15 seeds.

Seed orders have a 3-packet minimum. Mix and match varieties, or choose more than one packet of a favorite.

Arbol is a hot chile with a subtle smoky flavor and plenty of uses in Mexican cooking. Purée fresh pods for a sauce or tamale filling, use whole peppers to flavor oils and vinegar, or toast and grind them for chile sauces and spice rubs.

This variety originated in Chihuahua, Mexico. Its narrow, pendant-shaped fruit reaches about 3 inches long and ripens from light green to dark red. The peppers dry with good red color and can also be used in wreaths or other decorations.

• Maturity: 90 days

• Plant height: can exceed 4 feet in one season

• Fruit length: about 3 inches

• Heat: 15,000–30,000 Scoville heat units

• Species: Capsicum annuum