Forget Mums: The Edible Plant Alternative For Colorful Fall Planters

Chrysanthemums have become a trademark fall flower, and while their popularity certainly makes sense given their easy-growing nature and stunning autumnal color, it's also turned them into the expected choice. There are tons of fall crops and flowers to plant in pots that don't get the same spotlight, so if you're bored of seeing the same grocery store mums dotting front porches year after year, be the change you want to see in the neighborhood. One such option is ornamental peppers (Capsicum annuum). They're a bit of an unexpected choice, but once your plants start to develop fruit, you'll get to enjoy a showy display of autumnal colors including black, orange, yellow, and red that's sure to stand out.

There are plenty of different ornamental pepper cultivars to choose from depending on your desired size, color, and usage, but there is a caveat: Most of the time, peppers sold as "ornamental" aren't intended to be consumed. While they'll produce pretty fruits that are technically edible, the flavor can be hit-or-miss. Because of this, you'll want to do a bit of research before buying if you intend to use your crop as a way to spice up recipes throughout autumn. Regardless of the variety you purchase, the results are sure to be beautiful — so long as you give your plants the proper TLC and ensure they're being provided with conditions that will give them the best chance of thriving.

While ornamental peppers can technically be grown as perennials, they're most often grown as annuals in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 though 11. They'll do well throughout late summer and into the fall, but if you want a year-round harvest, grow your pepper plants indoors or overwinter them inside. Peppers can be planted in spring, but if you're a bit late to the game this year, you can also find transplants that can be planted in late summer or autumn that will reward you with fun color until the first frost. Generally speaking, these plants will do great in pots, making them a fantastic choice for accenting a front porch or filling out a raised planter. Make sure they have well-draining but consistently moist soil and plenty of sun — they'll be much happier if they're left undisturbed, so as long as you keep conditions consistent, you should have a gorgeous show of color as the pepper fruits start to grow and ripen.

There is a massive selection of ornamental peppers to choose from, so you'll have to consider what you're looking for before shopping around. Some plants grow fruits in multiple colors, resulting in a show-stopping, saturated look — keep an eye out for 'Chinese Five-Color' or 'Aurora,' for example. Others have deep, dark foliage that's perfect if you want some spooky plants that will look right at home with your Halloween decor ('Black Pearl,' 'Black Hungarian,' 'Peruvian Purple'). Take into account your ideal size, palette, flavor (if you want to use them in cooking), and fruit shape while you're searching, and you're sure to find at least one variety of the dozens available that will check all of your boxes.