Digging deeperPlant Library

Purple Jalapeno Pepper fruit

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Other Names:  Chili Pepper

Description:

This variety produces an upright, sturdy plant with wide, lance shaped green leaves; green fruits progress to deep purple, then to red when they mature; sweeter than red or green jalapeno varieties

Edible Qualities

Purple Jalapeno Pepper is an annual vegetable plant that is commonly grown for its edible qualities, although it does have ornamental merits as well. It produces purple oblong peppers (which are technically 'berries') which are usually ready for picking from mid summer to early fall. The fruit will often fade to burgundy over time. The peppers have a spicy taste and a crisp texture.

The peppers are most often used in the following ways:

• Fresh Eating
• Cooking
• Drying
• Seasoning
• Sauces

Planting & Growing

Purple Jalapeno Pepper will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 20 inches. This vegetable plant is an annual, which means that it will grow for one season in your garden and then die after producing a crop.

This plant can be integrated into a landscape or flower garden by creative gardeners, but is usually grown in a designated vegetable garden. It should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America, and it is considered by many to be an heirloom variety. It can be propagated by cuttings; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Purple Jalapeno Pepper is a good choice for the vegetable garden, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor containers and hanging baskets. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.