VegetablePepper
Mexican Sunrise Pepper
Mexican Sunrise Pepper is an F1 hybrid that transforms from lime green to yellow, orange, and finally red as it matures, offering gardeners a full spectrum of color in a single plant. These semi-hot peppers pack 500 to 1,000 Scoville Heat Units, delivering mild heat that won't overwhelm but will warm your palate. An AAS (All-America Selections) award winner, this upright plant reaches 20 to 22 inches tall and produces its first peppers in just 60 to 69 days from transplant, thriving across hardiness zones 4 through 13. It grows equally well in garden beds, raised beds, or greenhouses, adapting to nearly any growing setup you choose.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
4-13
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Organic Matter
Growth Stats
22 in
Height
TypeUpright
Spacing
18
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
4-13
Size
22in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
The real draw here is the eye-catching color progression that plays out over the season. You'll watch individual peppers shift through four distinct hues on the same plant, creating an ornamental display worthy of any vegetable garden. Beyond the visual appeal, Mexican Sunrise balances approachability with genuine flavor; the mild heat means even pepper-cautious gardeners can enjoy it fresh, roasted, or stuffed. The plant's F1 hybrid vigor ensures reliable productivity and vigor without the unpredictability of open-pollinated varieties, and its compact 20 to 22 inch frame makes it manageable in tight spaces or containers.
Common Uses
Mexican Sunrise peppers shine in fresh applications where their visual appeal and mild heat can take center stage. Slice them into salads, stuff them whole for roasting, or char them on the grill to develop deeper sweetness. Their ornamental quality means you can grow them as much for kitchen decoration as for eating, harvesting peppers at different color stages to add visual pop to your countertop or cutting board.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost date, maintaining soil temperatures between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit for reliable germination. Keep seedlings in bright light once they emerge.
Transplant Outdoors
Harden off seedlings over 7 to 10 days by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions. Transplant outdoors only after all frost danger has passed and soil has warmed. Space transplants 18 inches apart in rows spaced 36 inches apart.
Harvesting
Mexican Sunrise peppers can be harvested at any stage of color development, from lime green to red. For mild heat and fresh eating, pick peppers when they reach full size but while still green or yellow. For deeper flavor and maximum sweetness, allow peppers to mature to orange or red on the plant before harvesting. Simply pinch or cut peppers from the stem with pruners, being careful not to damage the plant. The plant will continue producing new flowers and fruit throughout the season as long as temperatures remain warm.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Capsicum annuum
Family
Solanaceae
Genus
Capsicum
Growth Habit
Upright
Native Status
L48 (NI)HI (I)PR (I)VI (I)