Bell Pepper
Capsicum annuum
A bushy herbaceous plant featuring smooth, bright green, lanceolate to ovate leaves arranged alternately along branching stems.
- Light
- Full sun, requiring at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day
- Water
- Water deeply and regularly when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch, avoiding both prolonged drought and waterlogged conditions.
- Growth
- Compact, upright, branching shrub-like annual reaching mature heights of 1 to 3 feet with a similar spread
Care instructions
Provide full sun exposure, consistently moist and well-draining soil, regular watering, and balanced fertilizer applied during the growing season.
Growing details
Sunlight
Full sun, requiring at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day
Watering
Water deeply and regularly when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch, avoiding both prolonged drought and waterlogged conditions.
Soil
Rich, loamy, well-draining soil with an optimal pH range of 6.0 to 6.8
Hardiness zone
USDA zones 9 through 11, typically grown as an annual in cooler climates
Growth habit
Compact, upright, branching shrub-like annual reaching mature heights of 1 to 3 feet with a similar spread
Bloom season
Summer; produces small, star-shaped, solitary white flowers
Propagation
Propagated primarily through seeds started indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last spring frost
Common pests & issues
Susceptible to aphids, whiteflies, spider mites, and fungal issues such as powdery mildew or root rot in poorly draining soils
Similar species
Other members of the Solanaceae family such as tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum), which can be distinguished by their distinct compound leaves and fuzzy stem texture.