VegetablePepper
Lilac Bell Pepper
The Lilac Bell Pepper transforms your garden into a kaleidoscope of color, starting as a bitter yellow fruit that deepens into stunning lavender-purple before finally ripening to sweet red. This open-pollinated heirloom produces hefty 4.5-inch peppers with a sweet, earthy flavor that evolves as dramatically as its appearance. Hardy across zones 4-13, these vigorous plants reach 24-36 inches tall and deliver their colorful bounty in 70-79 days, though some growers report harvests beginning as early as 60 days.
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
36 in
Height
TypeUpright
Spacing
18
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
4-13
Size
36in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
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Highlights
What sets this pepper apart is its remarkable color journey and flavor evolution that unfolds right in your garden. Starting with a grassy, bitter taste in its yellow stage, the pepper develops into something truly special as it transitions through its signature lilac-purple phase before reaching full sweetness at red maturity. The gourmet appearance and unique flavor progression make this variety a favorite among chefs and home gardeners seeking something extraordinary. Each plant produces an abundance of thick-walled, blocky fruits with 3-4 lobes that measure an impressive 4.5 inches long and 3.5 inches wide.
Common Uses
These versatile peppers shine in both raw and cooked applications, adding vibrant color and sweet, earthy flavor to salads, stir-fries, and countless other dishes. Their crunchy texture and mild sweetness make them perfect for fresh eating, while their stunning appearance creates visual impact in any culinary presentation. The peppers can be harvested at multiple stages, offering different flavor profiles from the grassy early stage to the fully sweet red maturity.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 2-3 per cell, planting about 1/4 inch deep in moistened seed-starting medium. Maintain optimal germination temperature of 85°F using heat mats if needed, and cover trays with humidity domes until seedlings emerge. Provide full, direct sunlight immediately after germination, using grow lights if necessary to prevent leggy growth.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant after all danger of frost has passed and nighttime temperatures stay above 50°F. Harden off seedlings for 1-2 weeks before final transplantation, gradually increasing outdoor exposure time daily. Plant at soil level in prepared beds, spacing 18-24 inches apart in rows 2-3 feet apart.
Harvesting
Harvest peppers when they reach peak size and your desired color stage, cutting the fruit from the plant 1-2 inches above the pepper rather than pulling. They can be picked at nearly any stage but will develop their sweetest flavor as they near their final red color. Typical harvest time is 70-80 days after transplantation, though some growers report earlier harvests. Pick frequently to encourage continued fruit production throughout the season.
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)