Future Plants by Randy Stewart: Ornamental Peppers

Sunday, August 15, 2021

Ornamental Peppers

Capsicum annuum ( Ornamental Pepper )
These are the showier versions of the edible garden pepper, except unlike those, these are grown for their attractive foliage and or fruits. They are often used in containers and annual borders.
They prefer full sun on moist, fertile, well drained soil and must be planted outside during spring after any chance of frost has passed.

* photos taken on July 26 2020 in Elkrdige, MD

* photos taken on Aug 18 2021 in Windsor, ON

* photos taken on Sep 17 2023 in Burtonsville, MD

* photo taken on Oct 22 2024 in Columbia, MD

'Acapulco Yellow'

* photo taken on Aug 7 2025 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Wash, DC

'Black Hawk'
A vigorous form with deep purplish-black foliage and scarlet-red fruits.

* photo taken on Aug 15 2014 @ Baltimore Zoo, Baltimore, MD

* photo taken on Sep 17 2023 in Burtonsville, MD

'Black Pearl'
An annual, reaching up to 3 feet, that was introducted by the U.S. National Arboretum.
Purplish-black leaves, up to 3 x 1.4 inches in size.
The glossy fruits, up to 0.6 inches wide, are black, later turning to deep red.

* photos taken on July 26 2020 in Elkridge, MD

* photo taken on July 13 2021 @ Hershey Gardens, Hershey PA

* photo taken on Aug 4 2021 @ U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, DC

'Calico'
A very attractive and colorfull plant with deep green foliage is heavily variegated white and often tinged rosy-purple too.
The fruits are glossy black, later turning to red.

* photo taken on July 26 2020 in Elkridge, MD