Jalapeño 'Purple Jalapeño'
Capsicum annuum 'Purple Jalapeño'
A stunning ornamental and culinary pepper that produces deep purple fruits with dark purple stems and leaves, creating a dramatic garden display. The peppers pack the same heat and flavor as traditional jalapeños but add incredible visual appeal to both the garden and the plate. This unique variety turns from purple to red when fully mature, offering multiple harvest stages.
Harvest
70-80d
Days to harvest
Sun
Blossom-End Rot of Tomato
Zones
4–11
USDA hardiness
Height
1-3 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Jalapeño 'Purple Jalapeño' in USDA Zone 7
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Jalapeño 'Purple Jalapeño' · Zones 4–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | April – April | June – July | — | September – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | June – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 5 | March – March | May – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 6 | March – March | May – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – May | — | July – September |
| Zone 8 | February – February | April – May | — | July – September |
| Zone 9 | January – January | March – April | — | June – August |
| Zone 10 | January – January | February – March | — | May – July |
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Blossom-End Rot of Tomato, Pepper, and Watermelon. Soil: Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand. Soil pH: Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0). Drainage: Good Drainage. Water: KAP-sih-kum AN-yoo-um. Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 8 in.. Spread: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 12 inches-3 feet. Growth rate: Medium. Maintenance: 'Aurora', 'Basket of Fire', 'Black Pearl', 'Buena Mulata', 'Calico', 'California Wonder', 'Candelabra', Cerasiforme Group, 'Chilly Chili', Conioides Group, 'Early Jalapeno', Fasciculatum Group, Grossum Group, 'Hot Returns', Longum Group, 'Mad Hatter', 'Purple Flash', 'Sweet orange', 'Sweet Sunset'. Propagation: Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Fruits are a non-pulpy berry and vary considerably across cultivars. Some are long, thin, bright red, and spicy; others are thick, large, and sweet-tasting; others still are small and in ornamental shapes and colors, grown as decoration.
Color: 'Aurora', 'Basket of Fire', 'Black Pearl', 'Buena Mulata', 'Calico', 'California Wonder', 'Candelabra', Cerasiforme Group, 'Chilly Chili', Conioides Group, 'Early Jalapeno', Fasciculatum Group, Grossum Group, 'Hot Returns', Longum Group, 'Mad Hatter', 'Purple Flash', 'Sweet orange', 'Sweet Sunset'. Type: Berry. Length: 1-3 inches. Width: < 1 inch.
Garden value: Edible, Good Dried, Showy
Harvest time: Summer
Bloom time: Summer
Edibility: Fruits edible, but spiciness is unpredictable in intensity.
Storage & Preservation
Fresh Purple Jalapeños keep best stored in the refrigerator in a perforated plastic bag in the crisper drawer, maintaining their color and heat for 1-2 weeks. Avoid storing at room temperature, as the purple pigments fade quickly in warm conditions.
For freezing, wash and dry peppers thoroughly, then freeze whole in freezer bags—no blanching required. Frozen purple jalapeños work excellently in cooked dishes but lose their crisp texture for fresh applications.
Pickling preserves both the unique color and heat beautifully. Use a standard jalapeño pickling recipe with white vinegar to maintain the purple hue. The pickled peppers retain their striking appearance for 6-8 months when properly canned.
Dehydrating works well for making purple jalapeño powder—slice peppers lengthwise, remove seeds if desired, and dry at 135°F until brittle. The resulting powder adds both heat and dramatic color to spice blends.
History & Origin
Origin: Tropical North and South America
Advantages
- +Disease resistance: Deer, Drought, Heat
- +Attracts: Songbirds
- +Wildlife value: Birds are immune to the capsaicin in peppers and can safely eat the fruits with no ill effects. Therefore, these plants may attract birds. Host plant for Potato Tuber Moth.
- +Edible: Fruits edible, but spiciness is unpredictable in intensity.
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Marigolds
Repel nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies with their strong scent
Basil
Repels aphids, spider mites, and thrips while potentially enhancing pepper flavor
Tomatoes
Share similar growing conditions and can help deter each other's pests
Oregano
Natural pest deterrent that repels aphids and spider mites
Onions
Deter aphids, thrips, and other soft-bodied insects that attack peppers
Parsley
Attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies that prey on pepper pests
Carrots
Help break up soil around pepper roots and don't compete for nutrients
Nasturtiums
Act as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles, drawing them away from peppers
Keep Apart
Black Walnut Tree
Releases juglone toxin that stunts pepper growth and can kill plants
Fennel
Produces allelopathic compounds that inhibit pepper growth and development
Brassicas
Compete for similar nutrients and may stunt pepper growth through root competition
Apricot Trees
Can harbor diseases like verticillium wilt that easily spread to pepper plants
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #168576)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Moderate resistance to common pepper diseases
Common Pests
Aphids, thrips, pepper maggot, flea beetles
Diseases
Bacterial leaf spot, pepper mottle virus, phytophthora blight