10 Pretty Ornamental Pepper Varieties to Try

Dwarf 'Medusa' is ideal for containers, growing just 6 to 8 inches tall. This variety produces long-lasting, upright, sweet fruits that are safe for a children's garden. The twisty peppers, which may remind you of Medusa's snake-like hairdo, start out ivory and ripen to yellow, then orange, and, finally, bright red.

'Black Pearl' was the first black-leafed ornamental pepper on the market. Use the plants in mixed beds or containers, so the glossy foliage and round, shiny fruits--which start out black and age to dark red--can really stand out. It's beautiful grown alongside plants with silver, blue or yellow foliage or flowers.

Like 'Medusa', this ornamental pepper is not pungent, so it's fine for public gardens or growing around children. The fruits start out greenish yellow and gradually turn orange to dark red. 'Chilly Chili' reaches about 9 to 10 inches tall.

Hot, early-bearing 'Masquerade' peppers are purple when they first appear. The fruits turn yellow, orange, and red as they ripen from summer until frost.