The many faces of Black Pearl pepper
September 03, 2010
‘Black Pearl’ ornamental pepper (Capsicum annuum) is intriguing in all its stages.
Papery, dainty, purple flowers appear before the black pearl-shaped fruit…
…which gives the plant its name.
The black peppers eventually ripen to red…
…and wrinkle up like prunes. The whole cycle is attractive and interesting. I’ll definitely be planting this annual again next spring.
All material © 2006-2010 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
I love how in their black stage the fruit looks like some sort of polished metal.
Yeah, the shiny, black fruit is definitely the main attraction for growing this plant. —Pam
The pepper I have is more variegated, with smaller leaves. It could be a Black Pearl. The label simply said ‘ornamental pepper’…very informative..ha The peppers and blooms look much like yours.
I have mine in a pot, so it hasn’t gotten as large as it could. Next year, it’ll go in the ground.
Gardening is a constant chance to learn.
Have a great weekend.
I think there are a number of ornamental peppers out there, Linda. Don’t you just love those tags that say something generic like that? —Pam
Very nice. And silly me…I actually thought you mixed some metal pods into the live plant, in a past post of that plant! Dain Bramage.
Ha–they were too metallic to be believed, I guess? Believe it. I swear there was no faking of peppers in my previous or current post. 😉 —Pam
I will definitely try this plant next year, if I can find it at the nursery. Didn’t see it this year, but you never know. I wonder if you can grow it from seed? Love your post, I just love dark foliage, and those peppers are a bonus.
I didn’t try to grow it from seed last year, Alison. Maybe this year. However, I much prefer plants that seed out on their own. I don’t have much patience for seed sowing indoors.
Gorgeous at all stage of growth, even the wrinkly stage.
I know. Aren’t they cute all wrinkled up? —Pam
Very beautiful!
they certainly look like black pearls
I know they are ornamental, but i wonder if they can be eaten at all. Have you tried?
Thanks for visiting from Japan. They are edible, but I understand they are VERY VERY hot (i.e., painfully spicy). I don’t think they’re meant to be eaten because of how spicy they are. —Pam
The first time I saw this plant was at the Dallas Arboretum. They were large bush like plants loaded with large red and black pearls. After seeing your photos I went out and took a look at my plants.I was never truly sure whether they were the ‘black pearl ‘ as the pearls were much smaller. However I have all the stages you show even down to the shriveled pearls. I wonder if the seeds can be saved.
I read on a gardening forum that someone grew them from seed, so I expect so. I haven’t tried it myself. —Pam
You’ve convinced me…this is the next ornamental pepper I’m going to try. Last year I had 3 pots of variegated peppers with the yellow and red upright pepper pods and they lasted all summer on the front patio. So nice to NOT have to worry about missing a watering…peppers are the extreme heatloving plant. Nice post.
David Tropical Texana/ Houston 🙂
Those with the yellow and red peppers are pretty too. You’ll enjoy ‘Black Pearl’ though. Those dark leaves make quite a statement, especially if planted in front of chartreuse foliage like pineapple sage. —Pam
Every time I see this fabulous Black Pearl I think ‘I Must Have It!’, but come spring, I forget to buy one. Thanks for such a beautiful reminder – THIS time I wrote it in my calendar for next year! I WILL NOT FORGET!!!
That’s how I am about most annuals, but this one will have a place in my garden every year. It’s definitely worth remembering. —Pam
I love the annual ornamental peppers and sure want to find a way to include Black Pearl next year. I simply can’t get enough purple.
It’s a very cool plant. But it does like at least part sun. (You and I both suffer from a lot of shade, don’t we?) —Pam
The first time I saw this (last summer at the campus display gardens) I could not believe those “pearls” were not fake. One gorgeous plant!
It really is, Linda. —Pam
I love that little pepper. I grew three last year, and you reminded me that I didn’t grow any this year. Will need to remedy that next spring. 🙂
Add it to the list, Dee! —Pam
I grew some kind of dark pepper one year, but it sure wasn’t that one. That’s a beauty! I’ll have to see if I can find one next year. I love your photos!
Thanks, Sue. I hope you can find ‘Black Pearl’ next spring. It seems to be pretty popular around here, so perhaps where you live too. —Pam
So surreal – great photos – did you use the new camera?
Not yet, Diana. But today I went to the Wildflower Center to experiment with it. Later tonight I hope to finally have a chance to sit down and look at them on the computer. Not enough free time! —Pam
I have the little red & yellow upright peppers also. I think they are pretty & they come back. But I must admit that I want a black pepper next yr. Love the way it looks.
It’s hard to resist once you see those deep, dark leaves and shiny, black peppers. —Pam