Moana Nursery High Desert Plant Finder & Guide
vegetable

Fish Ornamental Pepper

Capsicum annuum 'Fish'

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Fish Ornamental Pepper (Capsicum annuum 'Fish') at Moana Nursery

Fish Ornamental Pepper fruit

Fish Ornamental Pepper fruit

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Fish Ornamental Pepper (Capsicum annuum 'Fish') at Moana Nursery

Fish Ornamental Pepper

Fish Ornamental Pepper

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height:  24 inches

Spread:  16 inches

Sunlight:  full sun 

Hardiness Zone:  (annual)

Other Names:  Ornamental Chili, Chili Pepper

Description:

An attractive ornamental pepper with conical fruits emerging green with cream stripes, ripening to brilliant red; spicy hot flavor; excellent for border edges and containers

Ornamental Features

Fish Ornamental Pepper is primarily grown for its highly ornamental fruit. The fruits are showy green peppers with creamy white stripes and which fade to red over time, which are carried in abundance from mid summer to early fall. Its attractive pointy leaves remain green in color with showy white variegation and tinges of grayish green throughout the season. It features subtle white star-shaped flowers dangling from the stems from early to late summer.

This plant is primarily grown as an ornamental, but it's also valued for its edible qualities. The oblong spicy peppers are most often used in the following ways:

  • Cooking
  • Drying
  • Seasoning
  • Sauces

Landscape Attributes

Fish Ornamental Pepper is an herbaceous annual with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.

This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Fish Ornamental Pepper is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Mass Planting
  • Border Edging
  • General Garden Use
  • Herb Gardens
  • Container Planting
  • Hanging Baskets

Planting & Growing

Fish Ornamental Pepper will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 16 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 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 may require supplemental watering during periods of drought or extended heat. 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.

Fish Ornamental Pepper is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting 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. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Massing  Edging  Garden  Herb  Container  Basket 
Applications
Vegetable 
Ornamental Features