- Variety Info
- Sowing Info
- Growing Info
- Learn More
Variety Info
Days to Maturity: 70–75 days from transplanting
Family: Solanaceae
Type: Sweet Pepper (Learn more)
Native: Americas
Hardiness: Perennial grown as an annual; very frost sensitive.
Exposure: Full sun
Plant Dimensions: 18"–24" tall, 12"–18" wide
Variety Info: 3½"–3 ¾" long, 2½"–2 ¾" wide, thin-walled peppers start out green with cream striping, ripening to shades of yellow and red, then finally chocolate and crimson.
Attributes: Frost Sensitive, Good for Containers
Sowing Info
When to Sow Outside: For Mild Climates only: 2 to 4 weeks after average last frost, when soil temperature is at least 70°F.
When to Start Inside: RECOMMENDED. 8 to 10 weeks before transplanting. Ideal soil temperature for germination is 70°–90°F. Transplant seedlings outside 2 to 4 weeks after your average last frost date, and when daytime temperatures are at least 70°F, and nighttime temperatures are at least 55°F. Mild Climates: May be sown in late summer for fall/winter crop.
Days to Emerge: 10–25 days
Seed Depth: 1/4"
Seed Spacing: Start indoors
Row Spacing: 24"–36"
Thinning: Start indoors, plant seedlings 18" – 24" apart outside
Your hardiness zone is
Growing Info
Harvesting: Peppers can be harvested green or left on the plant to mature to brownish-red with brown, cream, and green striping.
Learn More
Pepper: Sow and Grow Guide- Diane P.Rated 5 out of 5 stars9/30/25Gorgeous and Very Tasty
These grow beautifully in containers and don’t mind being a little crowded. Grown as a group, both foliage and peppers are a real showstopper. Children especially love them.
Tasty in salads and scrambled eggs.
Which best describes you as a gardener? ExpertBIBotanical Interests10/1/25Hey Diane P.,
Thank you so much for the wonderful 5-star review! Your Candy Cane Chocolate Cherry Sweet Peppers are gorgeous! It's awesome that you discovered they don't mind being a little crowded - that's such valuable information for gardeners working with limited space who want maximum impact.
Your creative uses in salads and scrambled eggs sound absolutely delicious. The sweet, mild flavor of these peppers makes them so versatile in the kitchen, and those beautiful colors must make every dish look amazing. It's great to hear the kids are loving them as well!
Your success with container growing and crowd-pleasing results will be so inspiring for other gardeners who want to grow something both beautiful and delicious in their own spaces!
Keep on growing 🌻️
- Diane P.Verified ReviewerRated 5 out of 5 stars9/14/25Beautiful and tadty
These are beautiful as well as tasty. I have 4 of them in a planter box. And they produced beautifully. I am coastal and these do exceptionally well even under cool and cloudy summers. It was easy to show them off to friends.
Which best describes you as a gardener? ExpertBIBotanical Interests9/16/25Hey Diane,
What a fantastic review! We're absolutely thrilled to hear that your Candy Cane Chocolate Cherry Sweet Peppers are performing so beautifully in your coastal conditions!
It's so wonderful that these peppers are thriving even in your cool and cloudy summers - that's exactly the kind of real-world growing insight that helps other gardeners know what to expect in similar climates! Four plants in a planter box producing beautifully sounds like the perfect setup, and we love that they're not just productive but gorgeous enough to show off to friends too!
There's something really special about a pepper variety that delivers on both looks and flavor. The fact that they're as tasty as they are beautiful really makes the Candy Cane Chocolate Cherry such a standout variety for gardeners who want it all!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience with these amazing peppers. Your success story will be so helpful for fellow coastal gardeners looking for reliable pepper varieties that can handle their unique growing conditions!
Keep on growing 🌻️
- Isabel E.Rated 5 out of 5 stars9/5/25Productive lil’ guys!
I almost never review purchases, but these prolific lil’ beauties have been my pride and joy this year! Great both in my porch containers and raised beds. Tasty raw and absolutely legendary roasted with salt & olive oil, and the stunning variegation on leaves and fruits is a visual plus. Will happily grow again next season! Thrived in Long Island / Zone 7b.
Which best describes you as a gardener? IntermediateBIBotanical Interests9/10/25Hey Isabel,
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience with our Candy Cane Chocolate Cherry Sweet Pepper Seeds! We absolutely love hearing from gardeners who discover just how versatile and productive these little beauties can be - it sounds like you really hit the jackpot with them this season!
Your enthusiasm is absolutely contagious! The fact that they performed so well both in your porch containers AND raised beds shows just how adaptable these peppers are. And we're so glad you discovered how amazing they are roasted with salt and olive oil - that's one of our favorite ways to enjoy them too!
The stunning variegation you mentioned is such a bonus, isn't it? It's wonderful when a plant can be both incredibly productive AND gorgeous at the same time. Your garden must have looked absolutely beautiful!
Thanks for including your zone info too - that's so helpful for other gardeners in similar climates who might be considering these peppers!
Keep on growing 🌻️
- PSVerified BuyerRated 1 out of 5 stars8/18/25Germination Rate was 0%
Bought these expensive pepper seeds with lots of excitement only to be disappointed. Not a single seed germinated! And the packet came with just 10! With such low no. of seeds and high price, I would expect 100% germination rate at the least but I got 0. Was my first time ordering from Botanical Interests so its definitely left a sour taste about the quality here.
Which best describes you as a gardener? ExpertBIBotanical Interests8/26/25Hey Priya,
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts in a review. I've reached out to you via email to offer assistance. Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we are committed to ensuring your experience is positive. Thank you once again for your input. Keep on growing 🌻️
- KathyRated 5 out of 5 stars6/21/255 Stars
Perfect