Back around the mid-2000s I ordered two Bhut Jolokia (aka ghost pepper) plants from a grower in Florida.  He assured me the plants were grown from isolated seeds and only a couple of generations removed from the original introduction in 2003 of the ghost pepper to the U.S. grower's market by NMSU CPI.  I have no reason to doubt that assurance.  

Those two plants thrived and produced at least a couple hundred pods each.  I harvested the seed from the best of those pods, cured them, and placed them in a cold storage seed vault.  There they have remained for nearly two decades.

Those two plants were the only pepper plants I grew that year and the nearest possible other plants were at least a quarter mile away.  So these seeds are well isolated.  The pods shown above, both red and green, were produced three or four years ago by plants grown from these seeds.

Every few years I retrieve a few seeds to test germination percentage.  It has remained acceptably high for all this time.  A germination test of 100 seeds in summer of 2023 yielded a 53% germination rate with no special treatment beyond a warm water presoak.  

The seedlings shown in the pictures above are typical for these plants.  They are vigorous and strong growers.

For best results, plant these seeds in a good germination mix, in a seedling flat and keep them moist (not soggy!) at around 82 °F.  In about seven days they'll start popping up.  Even better than maintaining a constant 82 °F is if the temperature fluctuates from the mid 70s at night to the mid 80s in the day.  Applying specialized germination procedures may result in even higher germination percentages.

I am making these seeds available to competent growers in order to maintain the genetics of this variety.  These are not your local hardware store's ghost peppers.  With random crosses through  open pollination and intentional cross pollination, the ghost peppers of today often bear only a passing similarity to the original.  These seeds *are* the original.

By placing an order you attest and affirm you are a competent grower with experience growing peppers.  While they will grow extremely well given proper care and conditions, the Bhut Jolokia is not the best choice for first time growers.  Order a quantity of one and you will receive a packet of no fewer than 25 seeds, from which you should be able to germinate at least 10 to 15 plants.

As a final note, I'll mention that while many are unaware of this, ghost pepper plants are tender perennials.  They won't tolerate a frost nor, in fact, extended periods below about 50°F.  But potted up and brought inside in the winter, and kept warm under lights or in a sunny window, a Bhut Jolokia can live for years.  I personally have had one live for four years and I've read of decade old plants.

March 2019 germination tests yield 69% germination with no special techniques, 74% with custom treatment protocol (provided with order upon request.)