Ornamental peppers a holiday favorite

By Dean Fosdick | For The Associated Press • Published November 15, 2008

Comments (0)

The popularity of these flowering vegetables has been increasing, but should gain momentum next year when they begin arriving at such national retail chains as Lowe's and Wal-Mart, said Travis Knoop, special projects manager at Metrolina Greenhouses in Huntersville, N.C.

Some holiday houseplants

Although poinsettias of all stripes and colors remain the best-selling holiday plant of choice, there are a number of good, winter-blooming options. Here are some elegant and carefree holiday houseplant suggestions:

•Amaryllis: These bulbous plants bear one or more lily-like flowers on a single, strong stem. They come in different sizes and colors and usually are sold in 6- or 8-inch pots. They also make gorgeous holiday bouquets when freshly cut. They are long-lasting and low maintenance. Some selections are fragrant.

•Christmas cactus: A sun-loving succulent that flowers during the holidays and makes a good foliage plant when tended minimally the rest of the year. They flower in red, white, pink and violet, and look good in containers or hanging baskets. Christmas cactus is a long-lived plant. Many are passed along from family member to family member through the generations.

•Christmas topiary: Potted plants, usually English ivy, rosemary, juniper or an assortment of miniature conifers, used for tabletop display. Most are trimmed into holiday shapes — Christmas trees, reindeer and ornamental balls, among others — and draped with ribbons and miniature lights. "Topiaries are time consuming if you do them well," said Byron Martin, owner of Logee's Tropical Plants in Danielson, Conn. "They can be beautiful, but it takes a long time to make a quality one."

•Ornithogalum (White Star of Bethlehem): This fragrant flowering plant produces a number of white, star-shaped blooms on two or three tall stems. The flowers generally last several weeks. The plant originates from a bulb that has growing habits similar to the amaryllis.

•Antherium (Hawaiian Volcano Plant): These tropical plants are valued for their heart- or arrow-shaped leaves and contrasting red or yellow flowers, which will last for weeks. They are a great choice for table or mantle arrangements. "You can't kill it," Martin said. "It flops down if it gets too dry. But after you give it some water, it perks right up again. An unbelievable plant for the holidays or any time."

Dean Fosdick/For The Associated Press

"There's more of a demand for them now, with people asking for a heat tolerant plant that's also very showy," said Knoop, who studied under Bosland at New Mexico State. "Their fruit lasts longer than any flower for the money. People new to these pepper plants are usually pleased with the outcomes."

Ornamental peppers are frost-sensitive and generally grow best when planted in well-drained, slightly acidic soil. They perform as soft perennials in frost-free zones, Knoop said.

"Although they self-sow, it's best to buy new plants off the shelf each year for more consistency," he said.

Their drying ability is another plus, said Janie Lamson, whose Cross Country Nurseries at Rosemont, N.J., turns out some 500 pepper varieties.

"You can cut a whole branch of them and they will dry and display well on a wall or hanging from the ceiling," Lamson said. "A lot of people use them for table arrangements. A great many display them in the workplace.

"They're thin-skinned. When you want to use them to spice up some food, they will crumble easily in your fingers."

All peppers are suitable for eating — fresh or dried, whole or ground.

"Some of the potted peppers will be marked 'For Ornamental Use Only,' but only because they've been sprayed with something not for use on edible crops," Lamson said. "If you grow your own, they're edible."

But for the most part, the ornamentals are raised primarily for their dense, multi-branched foliage and colorful fruit.

"Ornamental chilies can have all the colors of the rainbow, often displaying pods in four or five colors on the same plant at the same time," Bosland said.

They long have been called "Christmas peppers" because of their bright red fruits during the holiday season, he said. Wreaths made from dehydrated peppers are popular in the Southwest and are a major tourist product there.

"A tradition in New Mexico is to harvest mature red chilies and string them into colorful strings (ristras)," Bosland said. "The ristra is hung near the entrance of the house as a symbol of hospitality. Ornamental chilies have become an innovative way for small farmers to produce a high-value alternative crop."

<< Previous page