11 Best Peppers to Grow in Containers for Small Spaces

Growing peppers in containers is an excellent way to add beautiful, edible plants to small spaces like patios, balconies, and urban gardens. With the right variety, peppers thrive in pots and produce bountiful harvests.

When selecting the best peppers for containers, choose compact prolific varieties that fit your space and taste preferences. Here are 11 of the top container-friendly pepper plants

1. Patio Fire and Ice Peppers

These miniature Capsicum annuum peppers only reach 10-12 inches tall but produce dozens of 2-inch long fruits. The peppers emerge creamy white then ripen to shades of orange, red and purple. Perfect for ornamental edging.

2. Shishito Peppers

Known for its thin-walled 3-4 inch long fruits the shishito pepper plant remains compact at around 2 feet tall. The prolific, wrinkled peppers are flavorful with only occasional heat. Great for grilling and stir fries.

3. Bulgarian Carrot Peppers

Under a foot tall, this heirloom Capsicum annuum dazzles with multitudes of 2-inch long, carrot-shaped fruits. The crunchy peppers ripen from green to orange to red with mild sweet-tart flavor. Heavy yields in small spaces.

4. Ancho Poblano Peppers

Though capable of growing quite large, poblano pepper plants can be contained with pruning and small pots. The dark green, mildly spicy fruits are essential for dishes like chiles rellenos and chili verde.

5. Cayenne Peppers

A compact cayenne plant like ‘Red Ember’ peppers a patio beautifully while producing dozens of skinny, 2-4 inch long chilies. Use fresh or dried for spicy kick and brilliant red color.

6. Thai Hot Peppers

Fiery Thai chilies thrive in containers of all sizes. The 1-2 foot tall plants yield dozens of pencil-thin, upright fruits. Great for Southeast Asian cuisine and homemade hot sauce.

7. NuMex Easter Peppers

This compact jalapeño variant produces loads of 3-inch long, thick-walled peppers on 18-24 inch plants. The crisp, green chiles have mild heat perfect for fresh salsa and pickling.

8. Goat Horn Peppers

Uniquely curled, 8-inch long fruits dangle from sturdy 2-3 foot bushes. Ripening from green to red, these Capsicum annuum peppers offer mild spice and snappy flavor for salads, stir fries and stuffing.

9. Gypsy Peppers

Loaded with 2-inch fruits that ripen from yellow to orange to red, Gypsy plants stay under a foot tall. The crunchy peppers have delicious sweet, fruity notes. A patio showstopper!

10. Chilly Chili Peppers

True to its name, this dwarf Capsicum annuum produces loads of 2-inch long chilies with mild heat on 8 inch plants. A perfect spicy accent for containers and window boxes.

11. Serrano Peppers

Slender, blunt-tipped serrano peppers emerge green then ripen red. Bushy, compact plants yield dozens of 2-4 inch fruits with intense spicy heat. Ideal for hot sauce and salsa in small spaces.

With the right care like sufficient sunlight, water and nutrients, these compact pepper varieties will flourish on patios and balconies. Choose your favorites and get growing!