‘Chilly Chili’ is the Best Selling Ornamental Pepper

Mild ‘Chilly Chili’ is safe for getting up close and personal

As far as ornamental peppers go, ‘Chilly Chili’ is our best seller. There are multiple reasons why and chief among them is the fact that this particular pepper is extremely mild in flavor, much closer to a bell than a jalapeño. Unlike the majority of ornamental varieties it’s child-friendly, or just friendly in general, with no atomic surprises if anyone takes a taste—and someone always does. It can be used up close in both indoor and outdoor displays with no worries. 

Eye-popping blooms on mounding, trailing foliage

With ‘Calliope Lavender Rose’ we get the best of both worlds: it’s a cross between an ivy and a zonal geranium, with big semi-double blooms in an eye-popping shade of lavender. Cool green foliage makes the flower color even more intense, and is both mounding and trailing as a result of the plant’s hybrid parentage. 

That unique trait makes this hybrid well-suited for filling out hanging baskets and containers—we use it as a centerpiece on its own or as a thriller in summer combos. Try mixing in some Cabaret calibrachoa in other bright shades for an even bolder, more festive display. These vibrant purple flowers bloom all the way into autumn with no deadheading needed.

Vigorous plants bounce back after a summer rain

Vigorous ‘Calliope Lavender Rose’ is considered a breakthrough in floral genetics, with a tough disposition to match its beautiful appearance. It thrives in high heat, humidity, and drought, plus it bounces right back after a heavy summer downpour. In a landscape bed or window box it pretty much takes care of itself, much to our delight. 

 We grow this variety in the 8-inch pot.

Extra large, golden yellow flowers of ‘Indian Summer’

We like to use native plants as much as we can to encourage the local ecosystem, and one of our favorites for summer is rudbeckia. ‘Indian Summer’ is a particularly showy variety with extra large, golden yellow flowerheads. These bold blooms can measure up to nine inches wide so they truly do grab your attention—and plants keep producing flowers up until the first frost.

Black-eyed susans are free and easy—they look best in a more naturalized setting like a sunny cottage garden or meadow. As we mentioned, this variety is a North American native, and butterflies and songbirds are drawn to the bright flowers, adding a bit of animation to the woodland motif. 

‘Indian Summer’ grows pretty tall, reaching from 1–3 feet, so it works best toward the back of a design. It’s tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions, and once the plant is established it requires very little supplemental water—just keep an eye on it to make sure the soil stays consistently moist.

This selection comes in the 8-inch pot.