Ornamental Chili Pepper

Botanical Name: Capsicum annuum

Grown for its brightly colored fruit, Ornamental Chili Pepper is not particularly attractive until it becomes loaded with ripening peppers in fall and winter. Another common name for this plant is Christmas Pepper.

The cone-shaped peppers change colors as the plant matures -- from green to yellow to orange to red. Some varieties have purple fruit that is almost black.

This plant puts on a spectacular display when covered with a bounty of colorful peppers. However, it's a one-time production. You can expect ornamental pepper plants to produce fruit for up to 6 weeks. It will not bear fruit again and is usually treated as a temporary house plant and discarded when it is no longer attractive.

Pinch new growth to encourage the plant to branch out and become bushy. Keep it warm...this tropical plant is tender and should not be exposed to temperatures below 55°.

A note of caution: The peppers are edible, but are fiery hot. The juice from them can cause painful burning of the eyes and mouth. Keep plants away from small children and wash your hands thoroughly after handling the peppers.

Origin: South America

Height: To 1 ft (30 cm)

Light: Bright light, including at least 4 hours a day of direct sun.

Water: Keep soil evenly moist. Leaves will drop if soil is too wet or too dry. Water thoroughly and discard drainage.

Humidity: Average to moderate humidity. Mist foliage occasionally if needed.

Temperature: Cool at night, 55-60°F, 13-16°C; warm during the day 70-75°F, 21-24°C

Soil: Any good potting mix.

Fertilizer: Feed monthly with a balanced liquid fertilizer diluted by half.

Propagation: Seed