Purple Beauty Capsicum

Capsicum annuum (nightshade)

Also known as: Purple Beauty Bell Pepper

A striking heirloom valued for its deep, almost onyx-purple fruit — a rare colour among capsicums, and one it holds from early on rather than only developing at full ripeness. Compact, reliable plants produce thick-walled, crisp fruit with a mild, sweet flavour, purple through much of the season before gradually blushing to red-orange if left to fully mature. Equally good picked purple for a striking dash of colour on the plate, or left longer for extra sweetness — either way, a standout in the garden as much as in the kitchen.

Days to harvest 70–80 days
Fruit size 10cm
Sowing depth 5mm
Germination 7–14 days at 24–29°C
Spacing 30–45cm apart
Aspect Full sun, well-drained soil
Frost tolerance Frost sensitive — needs reliably warm nights

Growing notes

Choose a full-sun spot with well-drained, moderately fertile soil. The compact habit makes this one of the more forgiving capsicums for 20L pots and smaller garden beds.

Soil preparation: Well-drained soil with moderate fertility — avoid overfeeding, which can come at the expense of fruit size.

Support: Rarely needed given the compact habit, though a light stake can help if the plant is carrying a heavy crop.

Watering & feeding: Water consistently and avoid letting the soil dry out or become waterlogged. Feed lightly once flowering begins — this variety doesn't need heavy feeding to perform well.

Harvest: Pick once fruit reaches full colour and size — purple fruit is fully usable and doesn't need to wait for red. Regular picking encourages continued production. Cut rather than pull to avoid damaging the plant.

Timing: Expect first harvest around 70–80 days after transplanting, with fruit holding its purple colour well before gradually shifting to red-orange later in the season.

Key features

  • Open-pollinated heirloom
  • Distinctive deep purple colouring, held from early maturity
  • Thick-walled, crisp flesh
  • Mild, sweet flavour
  • Compact, reliable, high-yielding plants
  • Excellent stuffed, grilled, roasted, or raw

Short season tips

Best started indoors on heat mats — this variety needs 24–29°C soil to germinate reliably. Sow 8–10 weeks before the last frost or purchase as 6–8-week-old seedlings. Transplant into the garden only once soil temperature has reliably warmed to at least 15°C. Avoid disturbing roots when transplanting — capsicums resent being moved and stall easily. Its compact habit and early colour make it a satisfying, reliable choice where the growing season runs shorter than ideal.

  • Spring
  • Summer

Tender perennial — most often grown as an annual

  • Basil (particularly good for capsicums) Marigolds Onion Parsley
  • Other nightshades (tomatoes, eggplants, potatoes) Fennel

The exact origins of Purple Beauty are unclear, though it's thought to be closely related to — or possibly a renaming of — the Holland bell pepper developed in the Netherlands in the early 1980s. It has since become one of the most widely grown purple sweet peppers, prized by home gardeners for bringing a genuinely unusual colour to the pepper patch.