Peppers that grow up are a beautiful example of how amazing nature is. Some peppers grow toward the sun, which is why they are often called ornamental peppers.
When grown in gardens, backyards, patios, or even inside, these ornamental peppers look very pretty because they naturally grow toward the sun, are small, and have beautiful colors. Ornamental peppers require 12 hours of sunlight, whether grown indoors or outdoors. Plant them in well-draining pots and water them once the top half inch of the soil becomes dry. Read on for eight hot and spicy peppers that grow straight up!.
The Thai hot pepper is an extremely spicy variety that grows upwards. This pepper plant produces green fruits that change their color to orange and red as they mature. Place them in a sunny spot in your garden and use 1-gallon containers that are deep and have good drainage to give their taproots room to grow.
These peppers are quite small, about 0. 5 to 1 inch long and thin. Theyre a popular ingredient in sauces, soups, and noodles. Handle them with care, as their fiery heat can burn the skin for up to 12 hours. As a precaution, always wear gloves when slicing them, and never rub your eyes while handling these peppers.
When you think of peppers, you likely picture pendulous pods hanging down from the branches. However there are also many varieties of peppers that defy gravity and grow upright! These upright black peppers add visual intrigue and ornamental value to any garden.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the top black pepper varieties that grow vertically, along with tips for growing and using them.
What Causes Peppers to Grow Upright?
Most peppers start off growing upright when they are young and light As the fruits ripen and get heavier, gravity takes over and causes them to hang downwards
However, some pepper varieties have been selectively bred to maintain an upright growth habit, even as the fruits mature This is accomplished through
- Shorter, thicker stems that can support more weight
- Stronger branch joints that resist drooping
- More compact, upright plant structure
- Smaller, lighter pepper pods
This allows the peppers to keep pointing skyward as they ripen.
Benefits of Upright Peppers
Growing black peppers that point upwards has several advantages:
- Eye-catching appearance
- Ornamental value for gardens and containers
- Fruits are held up off the ground, reducing rot
- Easier to spot ripe peppers for harvesting
- Allows more light penetration for even ripening
- Better air circulation decreases disease
- Takes up less horizontal space
Next, let’s look at some of the top upright black pepper varieties to try.
Black Cobra Chili
Also known as black cobra, goat’s weed, or Brazilian black pearl, this pepper has a wicked appearance thanks to its upright posture.
The pods start out green and ripen to glossy black. They measure 2-3 inches long and have a curved, twisted shape reminiscent of a cobra.
Despite its sinister looks, black cobra has a mild heat level, ranging from 500-1,000 Scoville units. The flavor is citrusy and slightly smoky.
This vigorous, productive pepper does well in containers and makes a unique ornamental. It can be used either fresh or dried in salsas, sauces, marinades, and more.
Black Hungarian
A heirloom variety from Hungary, the black Hungarian pepper has 4-5 inch long pods that taper to a point. The fruits start off green and ripen to a deep black.
This sweet pepper has very mild heat at just 500-1,000 SHU. It has thick, crunchy walls with a rich, smoky flavor.
Black Hungarian is excellent for roasting, stuffing, sautéing, and looks beautiful sliced fresh in salads. It does well in short growing seasons.
Purple Tiger
This show-stopper has vivid tiger-striped foliage and gorgeous bi-colored peppers. The 3-4 inch fruits start out green with dark purple stripes. At maturity, they turn completely black with intricate purple striping.
With no heat and super sweet flavor, Purple Tiger makes a unique addition to salsa, salads, and grilled dishes. The pretty plants thrive in containers.
Black Pearl
Not to be confused with the Brazilian black pearl/black cobra pepper, the black pearl variety was developed in Florida.
It produces loads of round, cherry-sized peppers that point straight up. The fruits mature from green to black.
Black pearl has a complex, fruity flavor with mild heat. It makes a pretty edible ornamental for garden beds and patio containers.
Chinese 5 Color
As the name suggests, this heirloom from China delivers a rainbow of colors all on one plant. The 1-2 inch pods ripen from green to yellow, orange, red, purple, and finally black.
The fruits have a conical shape and stand upright in profuse clusters. Chinese 5 color makes a beautiful ornamental edible with mild heat.
Takanotsume
Popular in Japan, this hot pepper bears tons of tiny upright fruits. The 0.5 inch berries ripen from green to bright red.
With a medium-hot heat around 10,000 SHU, takanotsume works great in hot sauces, powders, and Asian dishes. The pretty plants thrive in containers.
Black Devil’s Tongue
Imported from Russia, this rare heirloom has unique long, wrinkly pods that point skyward. It has a elegant look, especially when allowed to cascade from hanging baskets.
The 6-7 inch fruits turn from green to shiny black when mature. Black devil’s tongue packs moderate heat at 30,000-50,000 Scoville units.
Growing Tips for Upright Black Peppers
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Choose compact, upright variety.
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Give plants full sun (at least 6 hours daily).
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Use trellises/cages to support heavy yields.
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Stake tall/gangly plants while young.
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Pinch off early flowers to promote branching.
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Use raised beds for improved drainage.
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Water at soil level to avoid fungus on leaves.
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Pick ripe peppers promptly to avoid over-ripening/rotting.
Using Upright Black Peppers
Upright black pepper varieties can be used in all the same ways as traditional dangling peppers. Here are some tasty ideas:
- Stuff with cheese, meat, grains
- Roast, grill, or sauté
- Use fresh in salsas, salads, pasta
- Pickle into crisp chips
- Infuse into vinegars, oils
- Dry and grind into flaky pepper
- Ferment into hot sauce
- Smoke into chipotle seasoning
- Can or freeze extras for later use
Eye-Catching Addition to Any Garden
Looking for a way to add striking vertical interest to your garden landscape? Consider adding a few varieties of upright black peppers this season.
The gorgeous fruits pointing proudly towards the sky are sure to draw attention and admiration from fellow gardeners and passersby. Plus, you’ll enjoy a bountiful harvest of flavorsome peppers.
With their vibrant colors, intriguing shapes, and sharp contrasts, upright black peppers bring drama and allure to containers, flower borders, and edible displays. Give one a try this year!
Basket of Fire
If you don’t have enough room in your garden, don’t worry—these peppers can be grown in hanging baskets! They are ornamental peppers that are 1-2 inches long and very hot to taste. They can, however, do well in very hot and dry conditions and can grow in almost any type of soil as long as it drains well.
The star-shaped flowers of this plant are another reason to add them to your ornamental plant collection. In about 90 days, the fruit will be ready to pick. It starts out creamy, then turns yellow, then orange, and finally bright red.
The best part is that you can see all of these colors on your plant at the same time, and it can grow hundreds of peppers!
Chinese Five Color
The pepper plant’s fruit changes five colors, as the name suggests. It starts purple, then creamy white, then yellow, then orange, and finally red. This edible, perennial pepper plant produces 1 to 2 inches long, conical-shaped peppers that are medium-hot to taste.
The Chinese five-color pepper can be picked in just 90 days if you plant it somewhere sunny with soil that drains well.
The NuMex Twilight peppers are small, pretty houseplants with multicolored fruits that do best when grown in containers. This pepper plant has white flowers that turn into purple fruits that then turn yellow, orange, and finally red.
NuMex Twilight produces hundreds of 1-inch-long peppers on a single plant. To grow this plant from seeds, bring it inside first and keep the temperature between 80 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit until the seeds start to grow. Then, place it in a sunny location and ensure the soil stays moist but not waterlogged.
This super hot pepper grows upwards and takes 70 to 80 days to mature. It grows about 3 to 5 inches long and has thin skin. Its often used in pickles and as flakes or powder after drying. You can eat this pepper in all the stages of its growth – green, red, or maroon.
However, do not try it if you cannot eat chili peppers as it is quite hot.
This plant, which is native to North America and is also called cone pepper, is grown a lot in the Szechuan province of China and used to make food there.
The cone peppers grow upwards and have a medium-hot taste. At least six hours of sunlight is a must for growing these peppers. Not to mention, plant them in well-draining soil with a high organic matter for a better yield.
Here’s another beautiful ornamental pepper plant that will look great in your home garden. This plant has bushy, dark green leaves with 2 to 3-inch long peppers that point upwards. When the fruit is fully grown, the peppers turn red. They start out green, then purple, then orange.
In about 70 to 80 days, you can pick the green peppers. It takes about 100 days for the red and purple peppers to be ready. Be careful while you eat them, as these peppers are way too hot!.
Find a sunny location to plant these peppers, preferably southern and western exposure. Plant them in soil that drains well, and once the fruits start to show up, feed them with a potassium liquid fertilizer.
The Chile Pepper Institute at New Mexico State University was the first place to breed the NuMex Easter or ornamental chile pepper. This pepper plant grows well in pots and looks good on the patio or backyard. It grows 5 to 6 inches tall and produces four to six fruits that grow upwards. The lavender, light yellow, and light orange colors of these peppers look like the pastel colors of Easter eggs.
Fun fact: The New Mexico State University has grown a variety of holiday-themed ornamental chiles, including NuMex Halloween, NuMex Christmas, and NuMex Valentine’s Day. These chiles produce pretty colored fruits!
5 Pepper Growing Mistakes to Avoid
FAQ
How hot is the black cobra pepper?
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Scoville heat units (SHU)
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20,000 – 40,000
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Origin
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South America (Venezuela)
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Use
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Ornamental
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Size
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Approximately 3 inches long, slim
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Flavor
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Neutral (peppery), Bitter
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Do Fresno peppers grow upwards?