Hot Peppers

Very striking ornamental pepper with violet-tinged leaves that look almost blue and are sometimes marked with a faint white speckling. Small purple round-oval fruit grow upright on the plant and hold their color for a long time before finally turning red. Plants are slightly spreading and grow compact, making this beautiful plant useful for landscaping. 90 days.

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.

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. 7,000 to 8,000 scoville rating 75 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.

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.