Pepper ‘Basket Of Fire’

Take a look at this attractive ornamental pepper—it’s not surprising that it was bred with hanging baskets in mind. All those colorful peppers put on quite a display, maturing from deep purple to cream to orange to bright red.

We often get 300 peppers on one plant—but that pretty semi-trailing habit is what makes it so basket-friendly. Plants develop cascading lower branches while still filling in nicely with new growth at the top. The leaves are small, however, and the plants remain compact, so in the end the vivid fruits do wind up stealing the show.

These peppers are edible but they’re extremely hot; they have a Scoville heat rating of 80,000shu, just slightly less than a habanero. The red fruits are the hottest. We like to use them fresh, but with such a heavy yield we also dry some to use throughout the year. 

‘Basket of Fire’ can be used to brighten up a sunny garden bed or border in addition to containers; it tolerates cooler temperatures and lasts well into autumn. Harvest the peppers often for an even greater yield. 

We grow this variety in the 4.5-inch pot.