The garden pepper, Capsicum annuum (family Solanaceae), is a warm-season crop originally domesticated in Mexico. It is usually grown as an annual, although in warm climates it may be perennial. This species includes all peppers grown in the United States except for the “Tabasco” pepper (C. frutescens), grown in Louisiana. Other cultivated species, C. chinense, C. baccatum, and C. pubescens, are grown primarily in South America. Some 10–12 strictly wild species also occur in South America. Peppers are grown worldwide, especially in the more tropical areas, where the pepper is an important condiment. Piper nigrum, the black pepper, a tropical climbing vine, is botanically unrelated to the common pepper.