Hot Peppers

Striking flashes of bright purple foliage stand out against almost black leaves while new growth is splashed with creamy white. Small glossy black peppers are hot and although mainly ornamental, are also edible. Plants grow about a foot tall with a slightly wider spread and a layered habit. Perfect for containers or planting in gardens, Purple Flash survives summer heat while still making an exotic display.

Dark purple fruit and violet-colored flowers are what make this plant so special. Purple peppers almost cover the foliage, turning the 2-1/2 foot tall plants nearly purple. Upon maturity, the peppers turn red and are extremely hot. At this stage, purple, orange, and red fruit may be on plants at the same time, making a very colorful and attractive display.

An ornamental piquin-type chile with purple foliage and flowers. Tiny peppers ripen from purple to yellow, orange, and finally to red. Compact plants are well suited to container growing. While the pungent fruit is edible, it is usually just used as an ornamental. 120 days.

A jalapeno that offers a both fruity flavor, and mild to mid-level heat. Excellent productivity on 25-inch tall plants that produce 2-to-3-inch fruit ripens from green to brilliant orange. Perfect for adding color to a salsa, or for pickling, or stuffing to make popper jalapenos. Pungency increases as they mature to orange. Suitable for container gardening. 75-80 days.

The Caloro pepper was developed by Paul Smith, at UC Davis. Named guero in Mexico, it is used for pickling and making hot sauce. It is grown throughout the Western US and Mexico. The fruit are 3 by 1 ½ inches, conical, and tapered to a point. They mature from yellow to brilliant red, but you can harvest either color and see which one you like. Pungency is around 5,000 Scovilles. 65 days.

The Orange Spice is the hottest of the Spice peppers developed by Dr. Paul Bosland at New Mexico State University. The compact plants produce an abundance of spicy fruit that start dark green and mature to a fiery orange color. Flavors have hints of citrus and are described as fruity in salsas. But, of course, they are great in burritos, soups, or with guacamole. 75 days.