Great Gift Plant

How to Grow

For summer use, sows these seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last expected frost. Plant the seeds in small pots or packs, covering with a layer of soil the same thickness as the seed. Keep seeds moist until germination, which will occur in 2-3 weeks. Once all danger of frost has passed, established seedlings can be transplanted directly outdoors if desired. If growing as Christmas gifts, sow these seeds into small pots indoors in August: the plants should be mature and be in fruit by Christmas (a 90-100 day process).

• Environment: full sun
• Soil: well-drained w' pH 6.6-7.3
• Sowing rate: 1-2 seeds per plant

Plant Specifications

Ornamental Pepper is an annual flowering plant that grows in USDA zones 4 through 9. It produces a small edible chili that comes in at 30,000 - 50,000 units on the Scoville scale.

• Fruit color: yellow
• Fruit season: summer
• Plant height: 10 inches

Ornamental Pepper (Capsicum Annuum Goldfinger) - Goldfinger is another unique Ornamental Pepper than can be grown from Capsicum seeds and enjoyed indoors as a house plant. Capsicum Goldfinger grows just a little bit taller than the Filius Blue ornamental pepper, and it produces finger-shaped yellow fruits. Ornamental Peppers are also known as Christmas Peppers. Start enough Capsicum seeds to have Christmas Pepper plants for gift giving!

For summer use, sow the Ornamental Pepper flower seeds indoors 6 - 8 weeks before planting outside. Lightly cover the Capsicum seeds with their thickness in soil. Maintain a temperature alternating between 68F nights and 80F days. After danger of frost has passed, transplant outdoors and pinch the seedling back to encourage a bushier plant. Ornamental Pepper plants are very attractive in the front of the border or grow them in containers for the deck and patio. For Christmas Pepper plants being given as gifts, sow Capsicum seeds in August for plants that are loaded with peppers at Christmas. For the best fruits at Christmas, grow the plants outdoors and bring them in before frost. The peppers will mature in 90-100 days.

Ornamental Pepper (Capsicum Annuum Black Pearl) - Grow this one-of-a-kind foliage plant from Capsicum seeds. Enjoy the only ornamental pepper plant with intense, dark foliage in all your mixed containers. The foliage of ornamental pepper Black Pearl starts out greenish when young, but with maturity it darkens to a glossy black. The round Black Pearl peppers start out purply-black and mature to a dark red. These ornamental peppers are hot to taste, but they are not recommended for eating. Capsicum Black Pearl plants are award winning and popular!

Start ornamental pepper seeds indoors in small pots. Cover the flower seeds lightly and keep moist. Place a piece of clear plastic over the pots to help hold in moisture and create a humid environment. Place the pots in an area where the temperatures are consistently in the 70s. Once the Capsicum seeds germinate and sprouts are visible, remove the plastic and place the pots in a very bright window that has at least 6 hours of light per day. The ornamental pepper plants can be transplanted out after about 8 week of growth.

2006 AAS Flower Winner. Black Pearl is a handsome plant with black foliage. But the standout quality is that Black Pearl looks better as the summer season progresses. The plant branches out, producing more clusters of black, pearl-like, shiny peppers. The plant grows taller and wider developing into a black pyramid shape without pinching, pruning, or grooming. Black Pearl is exceptionally heat-tolerant and requires minimal water and fertilizer. It is easy to grow from seed, bedding plants or pot plants with fruit set. There are no serious insect or disease problems. As the plant matures, the black peppers turn red, adding a new color to the plant. While edible, the peppers are very hot. Use with care! Black foliage is very trendy and Black Pearl delivers true black leaves to the full sun garden. Black Pearl is an effective background plant particularly with silver, white or pastel flowering annuals in the foreground. Never out of bloom, Black Pearl has already been selected as a “most popular” new plant by consumers visiting a trial ground. Its foliage, color and low care will attract many gardeners and “non-gardeners” to Black Pearl. It performs exceptionally well in containers and deserves to be featured as the centerpiece.

Ornamental Pepper (Capsicum Annuum Medusa) - Start these Capsicum seeds and grow this fabulous Christmas Pepper! Ornamental pepper Medusa has long, slender fruit that twist and curl. The foliage on this pepper plant is dark green and the pepper colors start out ivory and with time, the colors deepen to yellow, orange and red, darkening as they mature. There can be 40 - 50 fruit on these pepper plants! Capsicum plants make wonderful additions to mixed containers, and they bring color and interest indoors when grown as a house plant. This dwarf pepper plant has peppers that are not hot and make nice garnishes for salad.

Start ornamental pepper seeds indoors in small pots. Cover the flower seeds lightly and keep moist. Place a piece of clear plastic over the pots to help hold in moisture and create a humid environment. Place the pots in an area where the temperatures are consistently in the 70s. Once the Capsicum seeds germinate and sprouts are visible, remove the plastic and place the pots in a very bright window that has at least 6 hours of light per day. The ornamental pepper plants can be transplanted after about 8 week of growth.

Ornamental Pepper (Capsicum Annuum Purple Flash) - Bring some rich, dark colors to your front borders and containers when you grow ornamental pepper seeds. Purple Flash ornamental peppers are striking with their coloration; new leaves can have white and green and with maturity, the leaves turn purple and finally dark purple. The small round fruit are purple and then red, and they are hot. Purple Flash Capsicum plants are well-formed and need no pinching to create a well-branched, full plant that brings a wonderful contrast to lighter green foliages and colorful flowers.

Start ornamental pepper seeds indoors in small pots. Cover the flower seeds lightly and keep moist. Place a piece of clear plastic over the pots to help hold in moisture and create a humid environment. Place the pots in an area where the temperatures are consistently in the 70s. Once the Capsicum seeds germinate and sprouts are visible, remove the plastic and place the pots in a very bright window that has at least 6 hours of light per day. The ornamental pepper plants can be transplanted after about 8 week of growth.