Data specific to Peppers (Edit)
General Type: Ornamental

General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Shrub
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Water Preferences: Mesic
Plant Height: 18-24 inches
Plant Spread: 16-18 inches
Leaves: Unusual foliage color
Fruit: Showy
Flowers: Inconspicuous
Flower Color: Lavender
Bloom Size: Under 1"
Uses: Vegetable
Suitable as Annual
Edible Parts: Fruit
Containers: Suitable in 1 gallon
Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Awards and Recognitions: AAS (All-America Selection®): 2006 National
Other: Fleuroselect Quality Award

Image
Common names
  • Ornamental Pepper

Photo Gallery
Photo by Fleur569

Date: 2015-10-09
Location: Brownstown Pennsylvania
Date: 2017-07-20
Location: My Northeastern Indiana Gardens - Zone 5b
Date: 2013-09-04
Container plant
Location: NJ
Date: 2014-07-21
Location: Cisco, Tx (between Dallas and Abilene)
Date: 2018-09-24
Location: My garden, Pequea, Pennsylvania, USA
Date: 2018-08-24

Date: 2010-02-01
Location: New York, NY
Date: 2014-10
Bronx bot garden
Location: Botanischer Garten Berlin
Date: 2023-05-11
Location: Mobot, St L.
Date: 2017-08-09
Location: Mobot, St L.
Date: 2017-08-09
Location: My Northeastern Indiana Gardens - Zone 5b
Date: 2013-10-16

Date: 2013-10-03
Photo by Jai_Ganesha
Location: Maryland
Date: 2014-09-10
Location: Brownstown Pennsylvania
Date: 2017-07-20
Location: Lucketts, Loudoun County, Virginia
Date: 2015-10-30
Location: Tellys Greenhouse, Troy, MI
Date: 2011-08-29

Date: 2013-09-12
Location: central Illinois
Date: 7-11-06

Date: 2013-10-03

photo credit: Vengolis
Location: My Northeastern Indiana Gardens - Zone 5b
Date: 2013-07-31
Leaf color at bud-set.
Location: Lucketts, Loudoun County, Virginia
Date: 2015-08-16
Ripe peppers
Location: Laura’s garden 
Date: 2017-10-14
Location: my garden 
Date: 2013-09-28
Location: My Northeastern Indiana Gardens - Zone 5b
Date: 2013-06-28
Young plant
Location: Maryland
Date: 2014-08-23
New leaves emerge green then darken to a deep purplish black.
Location: Botanischer Garten Berlin
Date: 2023-05-11

Courtesy Outsidepride
  • Uploaded by Joy

Courtesy Outsidepride
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: Tellys Greenhouse, Troy, MI
Date: 2011-08-29

Date: 2013-09-12

photo credit: Vengolis
Location: Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas
Date: 2015-06-26
Location: Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas
Date: 2015-06-26
Location: Lucketts, Loudoun County, Virginia
Date: 2015-08-16

Date: 2008-02-14
Location: my garden
Date: 2013-05-04
Location: Mackinaw, Illinois
Date: 2012-07-09
New leaves are green, turn purple as they mature.  Benefits from
Location: Mackinaw, Illinois
Date: 2012-07-09
Tiny pearl-shaped peppers are usually located high on the plant.
Location: Tellys Greenhouse, Troy, MI
Date: 2011-08-29
Location: Tellys Greenhouse, Troy, MI
Date: 2011-08-29
Location: Tellys Greenhouse, Troy, MI
Date: 2011-08-29

Date: 2013-09-12

Date: 2013-09-12

Date: 2013-10-03

Date: 2013-10-03
Location: KALAMA WA
  • Uploaded by Joy
Photo by robertduval14

photo credit: Peter Wesco
Location: Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas
Date: 2015-06-26
This plant is tagged in:
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Comments:
  • Posted by BookerC1 (Mackinaw, IL - Zone 5a) on Jul 9, 2012 4:02 PM concerning plant:
    The tiny peppers, only about 3/4" diameter, are primarily meant to be ornamental. They are edible, and very hot, but don't offer much flavor to go along with the heat. I grow them for the striking purple and green foliage, and the pretty little purple and red peppers. The fruits start out darkest purple, and turn a glowing ember red when fully mature.

    I have had some success in saving seed from this pepper, though I highly recommend wearing disposable latex/plastic gloves while handling the fruits to collect the seed. They are extremely hot, and if you inadvertently rub your eyes or lips with the pepper oils on your hands, you will regret it! Wash or flush immediately (I've heard that hot water helps dissolve the oils, though the cold feels more soothing!) and then rinse with cold milk, or apply cold milk compresses. The milk protein, casein, helps to counteract the capsaicin in the pepper oils. As an aside, drinking milk or eating yogurt or other dairy can help with indigestion after eating hot peppers, as well.

  • Posted by Catmint20906 (PNW WA half hour south of Olympia - Zone 8a) on Aug 23, 2014 8:50 AM concerning plant:
    Ornamental Pepper (Capsicum annuum 'Black Pearl') is one of the most dramatically beautiful ornamental peppers available. Its deep purplish-black fruit matures to a red color, and its leaves are a deep purplish black as well. 'Black Pearl' makes a beautiful and striking color contrast when planted with green- and yellow-leaved shrubs and perennials. 'Black Pearl' can be grown from seed.

    In Hawaii, Capsicum annuum has served successfully as a larval host plant for the Red Spotted Hairstreak Butterfly.
Plant Events from our members
piksihk On April 30, 2021 Seeds sown
old seeds from Laura's plant
piksihk On April 17, 2020 Seeds sown
pot old seeds 2014
lovesblooms On February 26, 2020 Seeds sown
indoors, heat, lights
lovesblooms On February 25, 2018 Seeds sown
indoors
lovesblooms On February 7, 2015 Seeds sown
indoors
variegatagal On April 25, 2022 Seeds germinated
From very old collected seed
variegatagal On April 16, 2022 Seeds sown
From very old collected seed
variegatagal On March 15, 2021 Transplanted
Potted specimens overwintered in garage transplanted to Pond bed
variegatagal On October 10, 2020 Potted up
Grow bag
variegatagal On April 3, 2020 Seeds sown
From collected seed. Slow to germinate ~14 days.
antsinmypants On February 8, 2021 Plant emerged
antsinmypants On February 1, 2021 Seeds sown
1 seed sown for pepper in a can challenge.
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