Red Demon

Red Demon is a compact hot pepper cultivar belonging to Capsicum annuum, commonly marketed under names such as Red Demon or Demon Red in commercial seed catalogues and nursery listings.

The plant is described as dwarf and bushy, typically reaching approximately 0.3–0.5 metres in height and similar spread when mature. It produces upright clusters of slender, narrow conical pods that ripen from green to bright red.

Pods are generally around 4 cm long and relatively thin compared with larger chilli varieties. The foliage is typically dark green, sometimes noted with purple tinges, contributing to its ornamental appeal in addition to its culinary use.

The heat level is commonly listed between 30 000–50 000 Scoville Heat Units in seed seller descriptions. This places Red Demon in the hot category rather than the super-hot class. These figures are derived from commercial listings and grower observations rather than formal laboratory heat testing.

Red Demon has been recognised in ornamental horticulture and has received the Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit in the United Kingdom, reflecting its reliability, productivity, and suitability for garden and container growing.

In culinary use, it is described as fruity and tangy with a sharp, lingering heat, suitable for fresh use, drying, and general cooking applications.

Although some broad “demon chile” descriptions online refer to various slender hot peppers with differing heat levels, the Red Demon cultivar commonly sold in seed catalogues is a medium-hot Capsicum annuum type. There is no widely documented formal breeding history or published pedigree for this specific cultivar. Origin is typically attributed to Mexico or the broader Central American chilli tradition in commercial listings, though no formal botanical publication confirms a precise development history.