Purple Bell Pepper

Purple bell peppers are a color variant of the common bell pepper, prized for their striking deep-purple to near-black exterior at the immature stage; fruit turns red or brown at full maturity. The flavor is essentially the same sweet, mild taste as a green bell pepper, making them most valued as a visual accent in salads and crudité platters when harvested at the purple stage. Cool nighttime temperatures (below 64°F) are required to develop and hold the deep purple coloration.

Days to maturity

~70 days

Plant height

60–90 cm (2–3 ft)

Best use

Fresh salads, crudités, garnish

Species

Capsicum annuum

Origin

Mexico, Central America (cultivated variety)