Species

18 other cultivars

fruit vegetable

California Wonder Bell Pepper

Capsicum annuum 'California Wonder'

The Story

Plant Bio

Capsicum annuum is an upright, bushy tender perennial from the warm Americas, grown as a frost-free warm-season annual with smooth green foliage. It bears small white solitary flowers that set hollow, fleshy-walled pods.

'California Wonder' is an open-pollinated heirloom from 1928 selected for blocky, thick-walled sweet bells about 4 inches long and 3 inches wide. Fruit sets green for crisp picking and ripens through yellow-green to rich red with zero heat, on sturdy upright plants reaching about 2 feet tall.

Uses & Benefits:

Blocky green-to-red bells on compact upright plants for edible beds and containers.

Thick-walled zero-heat fruit for fresh eating, stuffing, and freezing; heirloom seed saves true.

Small white flowers supply pollen for bees, including bumblebees under cover.

SpeciesCapsicum annuumPepper

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Fruit Vegetable

Height

24"

Width

12"

Light

Full Sun

Zones

4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Water

Medium

Humidity

Average

Lifespan

Annual

Native To

Southern North America to northern South America

Toxicity

Foliage toxic if ingested; ripe fruit edible

Bloom period

Summer – Fall

In flower about 6 months of the year

Planting

How to Grow

Plant in full sun with 6 to 8 hours of direct sun in well-drained loamy or sandy-loam soil at pH 6.0 to 6.8.
Start seed indoors in warmth above 64 degrees and set transplants out only after frost risk has passed and nights stay warm.
Feed with balanced fertilizer at planting with ample phosphorus and calcium and avoid high-nitrogen formulas.
Mulch and water consistently to keep soil evenly moist to prevent blossom-end rot.
Stake if fruit load leans plants and pick green for crisp texture or leave to full red for sweetest flavor.

Pro Tip

Keep water even from flowering on; alternating wet and dry triggers blossom-end rot and thin walls, while excess nitrogen pushes leaves at the expense of fruit.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Water deeply and consistently to keep soil evenly moist through flowering and fruit sizing.
Mulch to hold moisture and buffer soil temperature.
Feed with balanced fertilizer at planting, supplying phosphorus and calcium for wall development.

Don't

Do not let plants wilt between waterings or fruit walls stay thin and ends rot.
Do not push heavy nitrogen, which grows leaves instead of peppers.
Do not eat leaves, stems, or flowers, which contain solanine-type alkaloids; eat only ripe flesh.

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Fertilize
Harvest
Mulch
Pest Check
Plant

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Vegetable gardenRaised bedContainer planting

Companion Plants

Ocimum basilicum Tagetes patula Daucus carota Allium cepa

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

California Wonder Bell Pepper questions

What zones can California Wonder Bell Pepper grow in?

California Wonder Bell Pepper is an annual: it grows, flowers and sets seed in one season, so winter cold doesn't limit where it grows. Gardeners in any zone can grow it by planting at the right time, usually after the last spring frost.

When does California Wonder Bell Pepper bloom?

California Wonder Bell Pepper typically blooms from summer to fall. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does California Wonder Bell Pepper need full sun?

California Wonder Bell Pepper does best in full sun (6+ hours).