- Heirloom
- Mild
- 80 days to maturity (from transplant)
- 3,000–5,000 SHU
- Red
Guajillo
Mirasol · Durango Mirasol
Heirloom mild pepper from Mexico. Sweet heat, used dried in Mexican mole. Ready in about 80 days from transplant.
Single source · Updated Sep 19, 2026 · Values marked like this (estimated) are estimates.
At a glance
- Heat
- Mild 3,000–5,000 SHU
- Pod
- Elongated 0–1 oz (10–20 g) (estimated)
Slender tapered pods around 100 to 130 mm that point upward on the plant, thin-fleshed.
- Species
- Capsicum annuum
- Days to harvest
- 80 days from transplant · Midseason
- Plant height
- 2–3 ft (60–90 cm) (estimated) Medium height
- Spacing
- 18 × 24 in (46 × 61 cm) (estimated)
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Position
- Handles open positions
- Growing sites
- Greenhouse · Open ground · Container
- Container growing
- Balcony friendly min. 5 gal (20 L) pot (estimated)
- Difficulty
- Easy-moderate (estimated) 2/5
- Skin
-
- Red
Heat
Scoville heat units
Mild
Guajillo Scoville heat units: 3,000–5,000 SHU
Warm rather than hot, around a Cubanelle, a Pepperoncini or a Shishito. Most people eat these without reaching for water.
Flavor
“Sweet heat, used dried in Mexican mole.”
Growing calendar
80 days from transplant Midseason
Timing shown for temperate climates; sow indoors 7–9 (estimated) weeks before your last frost date. Look up your last frost date by ZIP code →
Disease resistance
No documented disease resistances — protect this variety with good airflow and crop rotation.
Uses & tags
- Drying
- Sauce & paste
- Heirloom classic
- High flavor
- Hot climate
- Market favorite
Origin
Guajillo is the dried form of the mirasol chile and one of the three peppers most Mexican cooking leans on, alongside ancho and pasilla. The fresh pod points upward on the plant, which is what mirasol means: looking at the sun. Sandia Seed Company lists it at 3,000 to 5,000 Scoville heat units over about 80 days from transplant. Dried, the skin is smooth and leathery with a deep red translucence; Sandia Seed sells it for the sweet heat it brings to mole and other Mexican cooking.
Sources
Where to buy seeds
Prices rechecked dailyLinks may earn us a commission at no cost to you. Prices checked Oct 16, 2026.
All photos
Questions
How do you grow a Guajillo plant?
A Guajillo plant grows 2–3 ft (60–90 cm) tall (estimated). Space plants 18 in (46 cm) apart in rows 24 in (61 cm) apart (estimated). Start seed indoors 7–9 weeks before your last frost (estimated); it germinates in 14–21 days. It needs full sun.
How long does Guajillo take to mature?
Guajillo is ready in about 80 days from transplant.
How hot is Guajillo?
Guajillo sits in the mild range, about 3,000–5,000 Scoville heat units. Figures vary between seed sellers, so treat them as a band rather than a measurement.
Can Guajillo be grown in a container?
Yes — Guajillo grows well in a container of at least 20 L (5 gal).
Is Guajillo resistant to disease?
No disease resistance is documented for Guajillo.
