Purple Beauty Bell Pepper
Capsicum annuum 'Purple Beauty'
A stunning ornamental and edible bell pepper that produces gorgeous deep purple fruits that eventually ripen to red if left on the plant. This eye-catching variety combines the classic sweet bell pepper flavor with incredible visual appeal, making it perfect for gardeners who want both beauty and function in their vegetable gardens. The compact plants are ideal for containers and add dramatic color to any garden space.
Harvest
70-75d
Days to harvest
Sun
Blossom-End Rot of Tomato
Zones
4–11
USDA hardiness
Height
1-3 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Purple Beauty Bell Pepper in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 pepper →Zone Map
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Purple Beauty Bell Pepper · Zones 4–11
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
| Zone | Indoor Start | Transplant | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | April – April | June – July | — | August – October |
| Zone 4 | March – April | June – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 5 | March – March | May – June | — | August – October |
| Zone 6 | March – March | May – June | — | July – September |
| Zone 7 | February – March | April – May | — | July – September |
| Zone 8 | February – February | April – May | — | June – August |
| Zone 9 | January – January | March – April | — | May – July |
| 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 Beauty peppers store best in the refrigerator crisper drawer at 40-45°F with high humidity, lasting 1-2 weeks when stored in perforated plastic bags. For shorter-term storage, keep at room temperature for 3-5 days, but avoid direct sunlight which causes rapid deterioration.
For freezing, wash and cut peppers into strips or chunks, removing seeds and membranes. Blanch pieces in boiling water for 2 minutes, then plunge into ice water before draining and freezing in portions. Frozen peppers maintain quality for 10-12 months and work excellently in cooked dishes, though texture becomes softer.
Dehydrating is another excellent preservation method—slice peppers into uniform strips and dry at 125°F for 8-12 hours until leathery but not brittle. Store dried peppers in airtight containers for up to one year. Purple Beauty peppers also pickle beautifully, retaining their striking color and adding visual appeal to mixed vegetable preserves.
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
Basil
Repels aphids, thrips, and hornworms while potentially improving pepper flavor
Marigold
Deters nematodes, aphids, and whiteflies with strong scent compounds
Tomato
Similar growing requirements and can share support structures
Oregano
Repels aphids and spider mites while attracting beneficial insects
Parsley
Attracts beneficial predatory insects like hoverflies and parasitic wasps
Carrots
Different root depths prevent competition and carrots help break up soil
Chives
Repels aphids and may help deter cutworms with sulfur compounds
Nasturtium
Acts as trap crop for aphids and cucumber beetles
Keep Apart
Fennel
Releases allelopathic compounds that inhibit pepper growth and development
Black Walnut
Produces juglone toxin that causes wilting and stunted growth in peppers
Brassicas
Compete for similar nutrients and may stunt pepper growth through root competition
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving. % Daily Value based on 2,000 calorie diet. Source: USDA FoodData Central (FDC #2258588)
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Good hybrid vigor with resistance to tobacco mosaic virus
Common Pests
Aphids, pepper weevil, flea beetles, cutworms
Diseases
Bacterial leaf spot, pepper mosaic virus, blossom end rot