How to Grow Bishop's Crown Pepper
Bishop's Crown Pepper
Capsicum baccatum var. pendulum
vegetableBishop's Crown pepper is a distinctive ornamental and culinary pepper plant that produces unique crown-shaped fruits with a mild to medium heat. The fruits are typically yellow, orange, or red when mature and have a fruity, slightly smoky flavor. This tropical pepper variety is prized both for its striking appearance and its versatile culinary applications.
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Example Bishop's Crown Pepper timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Bishop's Crown Pepper
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Bishop's Crown Pepper
Around Jun 26≈ 70 days after planting
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Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 10-11; can be grown as an annual in zones 7-9 with season extension
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Seedling
2-3 weeksTiny green leaves emerge 7-14 days after planting. Plant is fragile and small, typically 1-2 inches tall.
Maintain warm temperatures (75-85°F), keep soil consistently moist, provide bright indirect light or grow lights 3-4 inches above seedlings. Avoid overwatering which causes damping off.
Vegetative Growth
4-6 weeksPlant develops true leaves and branches; stems thicken and plant becomes bushy. Multiple shoots emerge from main stem.
Gradually acclimate to brighter light. Fertilize every 2 weeks with balanced fertilizer. Pinch off early flower buds to encourage branching. Maintain warm conditions (70-85°F).
Flowering
3-4 weeksSmall white flowers with yellow stamens appear in leaf axils. Plant is full and bushy with many flower clusters.
Switch to fertilizer higher in phosphorus and potassium to support flowering. Maintain consistent watering and humidity. Pollinate flowers by gently shaking plant or using small brush if indoors. Provide air circulation.
Fruiting
4-6 weeksSmall green fruits develop from flowers, gradually enlarging to 2-3 inches. Fruits begin to change color to yellow, orange, or red as they ripen.
Continue consistent watering and regular fertilizing. Support heavy fruit clusters with stakes if needed. Provide afternoon shade in extremely hot climates (above 95°F) to prevent fruit sunscald.
Harvest
Ongoing, 4-6 monthsFruits are fully colored and firm, displaying the distinctive crown shape. Can be harvested at green stage or allowed to fully ripen.
Harvest regularly to encourage continued production. Use sharp scissors or pruners to avoid damaging stems. Mature plants can produce 30-50 peppers per season.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Increase humidity, spray with water, use insecticidal soap, introduce predatory mites, neem oil as last resort
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Spray with strong water stream, insecticidal soap, neem oil, introduce ladybugs, yellow sticky traps
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Yellow sticky traps, insecticidal soap, neem oil, improve air circulation, reflective mulch
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Remove affected leaves, insecticidal soap, neem oil, blue sticky traps, encourage beneficial insects
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Remove affected fruit immediately, prune affected branches, insecticidal sprays if severe, sanitation critical
Uses
Fresh Cooking & Sauces
CulinaryBishop's Crown peppers are mild to medium heat (30,000-50,000 Scoville units) with a fruity, tropical flavor. They are excellent diced fresh into salsas, roasted for sauces, stuffed, or incorporated into stir-fries and Asian cuisine. [source]
Dried & Ground Spice
CulinaryThe peppers dry well and can be ground into a flavorful spice powder or rehydrated for use in traditional South American and Peruvian dishes where they are native. [source]
Decorative Garden Plant
OrnamentalThe striking crown-shaped fruits in multiple colors make Bishop's Crown an attractive ornamental plant for container gardens, patios, and borders. Both the fruit and foliage are visually appealing. [source]
Capsaicin Health Benefits
MedicinalLike other peppers, Bishop's Crown contains capsaicin, a compound with potential anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties traditionally used in folk medicine. [source]
Ornamental Dried Arrangements
CraftDried Bishop's Crown peppers retain their vibrant colors and distinctive shape, making them suitable for dried flower arrangements, wreaths, and decorative displays. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Harvest fruits when they reach full size and desired color (30-45 days after flowering). For maximum sweetness and heat, allow to fully ripen to final color. Peppers can be harvested green for a milder flavor. Harvest regularly to stimulate continued flowering and fruiting. Use clean scissors or pruners to cut peppers from the plant. Properly stored peppers will last 1-2 weeks in refrigerator.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Bishop's Crown peppers are native to South America, particularly Peru and Bolivia, where they grow wild in tropical regions and have been cultivated for centuries.
- 🌱 The unique crown or tricorn shape of the fruit resembles a bishop's mitre (ceremonial hat), which is how this pepper earned its common name.
- 🌱 Unlike most peppers, Bishop's Crown produces fruits that point upward on the plant rather than downward, making them more visually prominent and easier to harvest.
Gardening Terms
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