How to Grow Candlelight Scarlet
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Candlelight Scarlet
Capsicum annuum var. annuum
vegetableCandlelight Scarlet is an ornamental pepper variety known for its vibrant scarlet-red fruits that stand upright on compact plants. The peppers are small, elongated, and highly decorative, making it popular for both container gardening and landscape ornament. While primarily grown for visual appeal, the peppers are edible with a hot to very hot spice level.
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Example Candlelight Scarlet timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Candlelight Scarlet
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 Candlelight Scarlet
Around Jun 16≈ 60 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Candlelight Scarlet dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 9b-11; can be grown as an annual in cooler zones (6-9) with warm-season cultivation
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Get my Candlelight Scarlet timeline →Growth Stages
Seedling
2-3 weeksDelicate cotyledons emerge, followed by true leaves. Plant is small and tender.
Maintain warm soil (75-85°F), provide bright light, keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Bottom heat accelerates germination.
Vegetative Growth
4-6 weeksCompact bushy plant develops multiple stems and dark green foliage. No flowers yet.
Ensure full sun exposure, pinch growing tips to encourage bushiness, maintain steady watering and feeding with balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks.
Flowering
3-4 weeksDelicate white or pale purple flowers appear along stems, typically in clusters.
Maintain consistent warmth (70-85°F), reduce nitrogen fertilizer slightly, switch to phosphorus-rich fertilizer to encourage fruit set, ensure good air circulation.
Fruit Development
4-6 weeksSmall green peppers form and begin to enlarge, eventually turning bright scarlet red when fully mature.
Maintain consistent watering to prevent fruit cracking, provide support stakes if needed, continue phosphorus-rich feeding, hand-pollinate if growing indoors.
Harvest Ready
Ongoing through fall frostPeppers develop full scarlet color and waxy appearance, becoming hard and glossy.
Continue regular harvesting to encourage more fruiting, remove any diseased or damaged fruit, monitor for pests and diseases during peak production.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
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Spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap, increase humidity, use reflective mulch, encourage beneficial predatory mites
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Spray with insecticidal soap, neem oil, or horticultural oil; attract beneficial insects like ladybugs and parasitic wasps
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Use yellow sticky traps, spray with neem oil or spinosad, remove affected foliage, ensure good air circulation
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Yellow sticky traps, insecticidal soap, neem oil, reflective mulch, vacuum adults from leaves in severe infestations
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Remove and destroy infested fruits, use spinosad spray, remove plant debris, practice crop rotation
Uses
Hot Pepper Seasoning
CulinaryCandlelight Scarlet peppers are intensely hot and can be dried, powdered, or used fresh in salsas, hot sauces, and spicy dishes. A small amount provides significant heat to recipes. [source]
Decorative Container Plant
OrnamentalThe vibrant scarlet fruits and compact growth habit make this variety ideal for decorative potted displays on patios, balconies, and windowsills. The upright peppers create striking visual arrangements throughout the growing season. [source]
Dried Pepper Crafts
HouseholdThe dried scarlet peppers maintain their bright color and can be used in floral arrangements, wreaths, dried pepper strings (ristras), and decorative household crafts. [source]
Capsaicin Health Benefits
MedicinalLike other hot peppers, Candlelight Scarlet contains capsaicin, which has been studied for potential anti-inflammatory and pain-relief properties in traditional and modern medicine. [source]
Ornamental Wildlife Plant
WildlifeThe flowers attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, while the bright fruits may attract birds, making it a functional addition to pollinator gardens and wildlife-friendly landscapes. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Peppers can be harvested at green stage but are most ornamental and flavorful when fully scarlet red, typically 2-3 weeks after color change begins. Use pruning shears or sharp knife to cut peppers cleanly from the stem. Regular harvesting encourages continued flowering and fruiting throughout the season. In containers, can continue production indoors through winter with supplemental lighting.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Candlelight Scarlet peppers can produce over 100 fruits on a single compact plant during a full growing season, creating a spectacular display of scarlet color.
- 🌱 The peppers are among the hottest ornamental varieties, often measuring 80,000-100,000 Scoville Heat Units, making them significantly hotter than jalapeños.
- 🌱 This variety is also called 'Filius Blue' or similar compact ornamental pepper cultivars in some regions, and can be grown successfully as a perennial houseplant under bright indoor lights.
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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