Fish Pepper

6Reviews
SKU: 0971A
$3.95 to $9.19

Item Details

The 3"-long, colorful, striped peppers of this variety are borne on 2'-tall plants with beautiful variegated foliage. Traditionally used in oyster and crab houses around Chesapeake Bay, this 19th century African-American heirloom was first offered by William Woys Weaver in the 1995 Seed Savers Exchange Yearbook. His grandfather received the seeds in the 1940s from Horace Pippin of West Chester, Pennsylvania.


  • Organic
  • Plants and peppers are variegated
  • Medium hot pepper
  • Plants grow to 2 feet
  • Good for container gardens
  • Fruits grow to 3 inches

This variety works for:

  • Fresh eating
  • Roasting
  • Salsa
  • Pickling
  • Drying


This pepper is: MEDIUM HOT


Wear rubber gloves when processing hot peppers and do not touch your eyes. If you are sensitive to the heat, make sure to wear a mask over your mouth and nose and protect your eyes.


Try adding this pepper to salsa recipes or fish stews and crab dishes. You can also try making your own hot sauce with these peppers. Sauté them with olive oil, garlic, onion and salt, and after about 4 minutes add 2 cups of water. Heat the mixture for 20 minutes and then allow it to cool to room temperature before pureeing it in a food processor and adding vinegar.

Growing Instructions

Instructions - Sow seeds indoors ¼” deep. Peppers germinate best in warm soil, so gentle bottom heat may be helpful until seedlings emerge. Wait to transplant outdoors until soil is warm.

  • Start Indoors: 8 weeks before last frost
  • Germination: 14 Days
  • Plant Outdoors: 12-24” Apart
  • Light: Full Sun

Ratings & Reviews

6 reviews

  • 3 stars
  • 0 reviews
  • 2 stars
  • 0 reviews
  • 1 star
  • 0 reviews

slow grower

by

hotter than a jalapeno and cooler than a habanero

The star of my garden

by

I grew these for the first time last year, and I was thrilled by how pretty the plants and peppers were. Once they rippened I was even more impressed by the flavor. I have been adding them to pasta dishes as my secret ingredient!

wonderful

by

I've been growing this off and on for years and it's one of my favorites. Grow it as much for the foliage as for the peppers. The variegated leaves and striping of the fruit make it a looker. Great for growing in a pot as it's on the small side. The peppers fall in the middle when it comes to heat - hotter than your standard jalapeno but not gonna melt your tongue.

This pepper has it all!

by

Hot, tasty, beautiful peppers that have been productive and easy to grow! Usually ornamental peppers do not have the best taste, but these are superb all around. Fruit and plant have unique coloration. I was worried about the leaves burning because it’s been really hot and I thought the white leaves might burn.

Fun to watch and share!

by

I grew these in 2021 from a 2019 packet and they did great! Despite my yard getting minimal direct sunlight, I harvested dozens of peppers throughout the season. This one has a really cool history if you look it up- a fun one to share with friends.

Beautiful, flavorful, and just the right level of heat

by

Excellent germination rates. Beautiful, slow-but-steadily growing pepper plant, the variegated leaves are really marvelous. Delicious, spicy-but-won't-kill-ya heat, lovely. Definitely growing again next year.