This newer cross has very good yields of medium to large red pods with very high heat. Pods have very nice ghost flavor with a sweet taste. Plants grow medium to large with pods that start out lite and ripen to a nice red . Pods are larger than ghosts more like Butch t pods with thin to medium walls 

C.Chinense 

SHU 1,000,000 +

APS GHOST RED X T.S. BUTCH T - The Ultimate Cross

**Basic Info**  

Species: *Capsicum chinense*  

Origin: Atlantic Pepper Seeds (APS) breeding program  

Heat: Super-Hot (1,400,000-1,500,000 SHU, estimated)  

Type: Hybrid of Ghost × Trinidad Scorpion Butch T  

**Story**  

The APS Ghost Red × T.S. Butch T represents a bold breeding experiment that combines two of the most legendary superhot peppers in existence. The Trinidad Scorpion Butch T, which held the Guinness World Record for hottest pepper from 2011-2013 at 1,463,700 SHU, is crossed with the classic Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia) to create a hybrid that aims to capture the best traits of both lineages.  

Butch Taylor, the Mississippi-based chili grower who developed the original Butch T strain through careful selection from Trinidad Scorpion seeds, created a pepper with the distinctive scorpion tail shape and extreme heat that defined an era of superhot peppers. When crossed with the Ghost Pepper - itself famous for its slow-building, all-encompassing burn - the resulting hybrid carries the genetic potential for heat levels approaching 1.5 million SHU.  

What makes this APS selection particularly interesting is the convergence of two different heat profiles. The Ghost Pepper delivers a broad, spreading burn that envelops the entire mouth, while the Butch T provides a more focused, intense sting with a fruity top note. The cross aims to balance these characteristics, potentially creating a pepper with both the fruity complexity of the scorpion lineage and the lingering heat of the ghost.  

In culinary use, this hybrid requires extreme caution. A single pod can transform an entire batch of hot sauce or seasoning blend. The flavor profile likely combines the fruity brightness of the Butch T with the earthy depth of the ghost pepper, creating a complex backdrop for the overwhelming heat. For gardeners, this variety offers the thrill of growing a pepper that sits at the pinnacle of heat breeding.  

**Plant**  

Medium to large (3-4 feet), vigorous growth, typical *chinense* structure.  

**Pods**  

2-3 inches long, bright red when ripe, may show scorpion tail characteristics.  

**Flavor**  

Fruity notes with intense, slow-building heat.  

**Kitchen**  

Ultra-low-dose cooking, extreme hot sauces, specialty powders.  

**Growing Tips**  

- 120-150 days to maturity (long season)  

- Full sun (8+ hours)  

- Warm climate, zones 10-11  

- Well-draining soil, consistent watering  

**Culinary Uses**  

- Extreme hot sauce production  

- Dried powder  

- Specialty seasoning blends  

**Common Questions**  

Q: What heat level is this cross?  

A: Estimated 1.4M-1.5M SHU based on parent varieties.  

Q: Is it as hot as pure Butch T?  

A: Likely comparable, depending on expression.  

Q: Can beginners grow it?  

A: No, requires experienced superhot growers.  

Q: What makes it special?  

A: Combines two legendary heat lines into one variety.