One of the neat surprises of my recent trip to Oklahoma City, for the annual garden writers' symposium, was a visit to the test gardens at the Oklahoma State University there. (If any of my bosses are reading this, this is why it's important, not just fun, to attend professional meetings even if they happen to be held in places that are difficult to get to!) I would've never thought of peppers as an exciting garden plant, but when I walked through the beds of colorful peppers at the university, I was absolutely amazed.
One plant in the beds, already on the market, is called "Black Pearl." It has slightly glossy, deep purple-black leaves and the most dramatic, pearl-like black peppers that glistened in the bright garden light. As these peppers mature, they turn bright red, which may entice you to eat them. Which is OK, because even though they're considered for show, they are edible - and hot.
Just imagine this plant paired with silver, white or pink flowering plants. And you know how trendy black is. I can tell you that when a bunch of writers came upon "Black Pearl," whose proper name is Capsicum annuum 'Black Pearl,' you heard a chorus of "Wow!" Consider the group, but still. That is high compliment. I guess I was too blown away, or too deep in a horticultural stupor, to take a picture 'cause I can't find one among the hundreds on my digital camera.
I did, however, shoot this plant, which was another gorgeous pepper. I think this is "Masquerade," another one that's readily available if you know what you're looking for. The peppers start out purple, turn to yellow and end up red.
As you can see, in a massed grouping, they're outrageous.
I've never been a big fan of using ornamental kale. Somehow it looks unappetizing as well as ugly. But - and from what we heard in Oklahoma, home gardeners are increasingly thinking the same way - I could go for peppers out back among the flowers in a big way.
They get tall enough that you could plant them with brightly colored zinnias or marigolds or some other annual to give your garden a blast of color that would get you through an August or September like we've just had.
That alone recommends them.
