Black Pearl

Family: Solanaceae Ornamental Pepper

Planting Schedule

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Indigo-black, glossy “pearls” hang like polished beads from sturdy stems, offering a striking, lantern-bright contrast against the foliage.

Black Pearl peppers develop a smooth, firm skin and a compact, rounded shape that ripens from deep green to near-black with a subtle, peppery bite that’s as bold as its color. Grow for show in beds and containers—ideal for ornamental displays and vivid, living color that matures in about 80 days.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 80 DaysHabit: Bush

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Black Pearl Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Apr 6th	Jul 20th	Oct 8th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 28th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 28th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Mar 31st	Jul 14th	Oct 2nd – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Mar 27th	Jul 10th	Sep 28th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Mar 25th	Jul 8th	Sep 26th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 20th	Jul 3rd	Sep 21st – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 16th	Jun 29th	Sep 17th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 13th	Jun 26th	Sep 14th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 7th	Jun 20th	Sep 8th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 2nd	Jun 15th	Sep 3rd – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 20th	Jun 5th	Aug 24th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 11th	May 27th	Aug 15th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 2nd	May 18th	Aug 6th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 16th	May 1st	Jul 20th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 22nd	Apr 6th	Jun 25th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	Continuous Production
Zone 10b	Continuous Production
Zone 11a	Continuous Production
Zone 11b	Continuous Production
Zone 12a	Continuous Production
Zone 12b	Continuous Production
Zone 13a	Continuous Production
Zone 13b	Continuous Production

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	80
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Bush
Support Needed	Cage
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	80
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Black Pearl’s compact, firm pods keep their shape, so the heat reads crisp and immediate—great when you want pepper flavor without mushy texture. The dark, near-black ripeness gives a clean, pepper-forward bite that plays nicely with sour fats like lime and vinegar.

Best Uses

quick-pickled pepper “pearls” for pop-and-go acidity
thin-sliced garnish on tacos, flatbreads, and smoked meats
chopped into a flash-fry oil to perfume heat without turning bitter
stuffing and oven-roasting until the skin blisters and the interior softens

Flavor Profile

sharp peppery bite glossy-firm flesh with a clean snap near-smoky, slightly sweet heat as it ripens dark bright, fast heat that stays up front rather than lingering

Kitchen Pairings

lime garlic smoked paprika black beans chicken (or pork) white vinegar

Frequently Asked Questions

Black Pearl (black cherry) tomato: what should I do if I see blossom-end rot or gray, fuzzy fruit spots?

Blossom-end rot shows as dark, sunken patches at the bottom of the fruit—fix it by keeping soil evenly moist and feeding with calcium-rich tomato fertilizer (don’t lime mid-season). Gray, fuzzy spots are usually Botrytis or other fruit rots—remove infected fruit immediately, improve airflow by spacing plants, and avoid wetting fruit and leaves during watering.

How often should I water Black Pearl during the main growing phase (after flowering), and what soil moisture target should I aim for?

From flowering through fruit set, water when the top 1 inch of soil dries, typically every 2–4 days in warm weather. Aim for consistently moist (not soggy) soil—deeply soak the root zone, then let excess drain so the soil doesn’t stay wet around the stems.

How can I tell when Black Pearl is ready to harvest?

Harvest when fruits turn glossy black to near-black and the skins look firm but slightly yielding when gently squeezed. If you can’t easily tell color change or it’s still matte or reddish-brown inside the stem area, leave it on the plant a few more days—Black Pearl often needs full dark color for best sweetness.