Ornamental peppers: a review of the best varieties and potted care guidelines

Ornamental peppers are a great option for growing indoors. They not only produce delicious and healthy fruits but also add a beautiful touch to your home. We'll explore the best varieties and explain how to care for them.

Description and characteristics of ornamental peppers

Indoor peppers can produce edible and inedible fruit. Ornamental peppers have the following general characteristics:

• The bushes are small, typically 25-45 centimeters tall. However, there are exceptions to this rule, with some varieties reaching a height of 1 meter.
• fruit size, weight does not exceed 90-100 grams;
• the bushes are very neat, you don’t need to shape them yourself;
• If optimal room conditions are maintained, the plants will bear fruit throughout the year.

Plants love sunlight, so place pots on a sunny side of the house. Water only with warm water to prevent blackleg.

Pepper fruits can be:

• sweet or spicy;
• round or conical;
• yellow or red.

Edible peppers

Edible peppers will decorate your windowsill and yield a bountiful harvest of peppers that can be added to a variety of dishes. Specially bred varieties ensure the highest quality peppers. Let's look at the most common ones:

"Little Miracle"

A pepper variety that can be planted not only indoors but also outdoors and under plastic shelters. It grows into spreading, branched plants up to 50 centimeters tall. The peppers change color throughout the ripening process. The peppers can be yellow, orange, red, purple, or green all at once. The tiny fruits weigh no more than 5-8 grams. It is prized for its long and abundant fruiting. It is widely used in cooking as a spice and for processing into paprika.

"Jellyfish"

A bushy variety of ornamental pepper with elongated fruits that grow in upward clusters. It belongs to the group of hot peppers. A single plant produces up to 40-50 fruits at a time. The plant is short, reaching 30-40 centimeters in height. The bushes are very compact and look beautiful in a flowerpot. This pepper is used in spicy dishes. The fruit length is 5-6 cm.

Ogonyok

The indoor pepper "Ogonyok" attracts with its small, blunt-tipped, bright red fruits. While we're accustomed to peppers drooping downward, "Ogonyok" grows with its fruits facing upward, resembling small, flaming torches. Their weight ranges from 20 to 50 grams. The bushes are compact, reaching a height of 40 to 50 cm. This fiery vegetable is used as a seasoning in various dishes. Biological maturity occurs 120 days after germination.

Aladdin

An ornamental pepper variety ideal for growing on balconies, loggias, and windowsills. This ultra-early pepper ripens in 90-105 days. Fruiting is prolonged. The pepper is elongated and conical, weighing 14-22 grams. It tolerates low light levels and is easy to care for. The bushes are spreading, growing up to 60 cm tall. During the ripening period, the color changes: green → cream → purple → red.

"Phoenix"

A mid-early bush pepper variety, ripening in 95-105 days. The bushes grow no taller than 35 centimeters. The fruits are erect and come in orange, creamy yellow, and red colors. They weigh no more than 10 grams. This variety is prized for its high ornamental value and abundant fruit production. The pepper is used as a decorative element in various design projects. The fruits can be eaten fresh, dried, or preserved. They have a spicy flavor.

"Firework"

Grown indoors, the pepper grows to a height of 20-30 centimeters. The bushes are very small and neat, which adds to their charm. The fruits protrude upward, the skin is orange, and they have a spicy taste. Each fruit weighs 6-7 grams, and the walls are thin, 1 mm. They are used to make pepper powder and eaten fresh.

Explosive Ember

A pepper considered one of the most beautiful ornamental edible peppers. Its distinctive feature is the blue-green coloring of its stems and leaves. The fruits also surprise with their color, which changes as follows: purple → milky yellow → orange → carmine. The bushy plant grows to a height of 35 cm. The pepper is very hot and is used in spicy dishes.

"Bell"

A pepper with an attractive fruit shape. The fruits resemble small red-orange bells. The flavor is unique, with a sharp tang at the stem and a sweet and sour taste at the tip. Each pepper weighs between 30 and 100 grams. It takes 130 to 140 days to fully mature.

Nosegay

A small ornamental pepper with very dense foliage. The bushes grow to a height of 15-20 centimeters. The fruits are round, turning purple, glossy, and shiny when ripe. The tiny fruits are no larger than a common cherry.

Filius Blue

A compact ornamental pepper with edible fruits. It grows to a height of no more than 20 centimeters. The fruits change color from violet-blue to red. The plant thrives in warmth and moisture. The peppercorns are small, weighing 5-15 grams.

Poinsettia

An ornamental pepper with red pods. The curved peppers grow 7-8 cm in length. The maximum height of the plant reaches 60 centimeters, making it suitable for windowsills. This early-ripening variety has a growing season of 70-80 days.

"Bride"

A bush pepper variety with abundant foliage, 20-30 centimeters tall. Fruiting is prolonged, with virtually no interruption throughout the year. The peppers protrude upward. When biologically ripe, they turn a bright red. Average weight is 7 grams. Ripening season is mid-late.

Multicolored ornamental peppers

Multicolored varieties of ornamental peppers will decorate your home.

"Jamaica"

An ornamental pepper native to Jamaica. It stands out for its tiny bell-like fruits. This pepper is hot and perfect for adding a spicy kick to dishes. It's red when ripe. It takes 90-110 days to fully mature.

The Queen of Spades

Ornamental peppers grow no taller than 20-30 centimeters. The fruits ripen uniformly. The plant is perennial, so with proper care, it will delight you with its fruits for years to come. At technical maturity, the fruits are purple, and at biological maturity, they are dark red. They will beautifully complement any interior.

Inedible ornamental peppers

For those who simply want to decorate their home interior, inedible pepper varieties are perfect.

"Clown"

The ornamental pepper "Clown" grows 25-30 centimeters tall and has dense foliage. The plant produces numerous round, red fruits that are not edible. The fruits retain their appearance for two to three months. This pepper requires ample watering; if the soil dries out, the fruits will fall off rapidly.

Goldfinger

An indoor pepper with inedible pod-like fruits. The plant reaches 25 centimeters in height and 5 cm in length. Plants should be placed in full sun. Water moderately. The fruits protrude upward.

Housewives' reviews of indoor peppers

Raisa Mikhailovna, 50 years old.

I'd like to thank the breeders who developed edible ornamental peppers. I've been growing them for 10 years now and am always pleased with the results. My favorite pepper varieties include "Bride," "Ogonyok," "Little Miracle," and especially "Explosive Amber." These plants delight me not only with their appearance but also with the fruit they produce, which I use in cooking.

Oksana Olegovna, 30 years old.

I work as an interior designer. To add a brighter and more unique touch to a room, I use pots of ornamental peppers. I most often work with the ornamental, non-edible varieties "Clown" and "Goldfinder." Their advantage is long fruiting and the preservation of the miniature peppers' appearance. At home, I also grow edible varieties, such as "Medusa" and "Little Miracle." I recommend growing ornamental peppers to any housewife who wants to make her home more cozy and interesting.