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Fire Cracker pepper plant with ripe fruit

How to Grow Fire Cracker Pepper From Seed

By Maxim Kaufman — Founder & CEO, Organo Republic

Updated July 2026

Fire Cracker is a compact ornamental-edible chile that is as beautiful as it is fiery. Its small, slim peppers stand upright and ripen through a rainbow of cream, yellow, purple, orange, and red all on the same plant. At roughly 30,000 to 40,000 Scoville heat units it is genuinely hot, so it doubles as a striking container showpiece and a source of real kitchen heat.

This is the quick guide to Fire Cracker. For the full step-by-step on starting seeds, transplanting, feeding, and troubleshooting peppers, see our complete guide to growing peppers from seed.

Quick start

Start seeds indoors about 8 to 10 weeks before your last frost, kept warm at 75 to 85F. Harden the plants off, then transplant them out 18 to 24 inches apart once nights stay above 55F. Give full sun and steady water; the compact plants thrive in pots and need little support. Peppers begin ripening from about 90 days, coloring up through the full rainbow before turning red.

Best tip

Fire Cracker is a compact ornamental-edible pepper that packs real heat, and it thrives with warmth and sun. Start seeds indoors early and do not set plants out until nights are reliably above 55F. Its small upright peppers ripen through a rainbow of colors on one plant, so it doubles as a container showpiece. In hot regions give steady water so the little fruits keep coming, and remember these are genuinely hot, so taste with caution.

At a glance

How to Grow Fire Cracker Pepper From Seed — growing specifications at a glance
Botanical name	Capsicum annuum
Plant type	Warm-season annual
USDA zones	3 to 12 (grown as an annual)
Sun	Full sun (6 to 8+ hours)
Days to maturity	~90 days to full color
Height	10 to 16 inches
Spacing	18 to 24 inches apart
Water	Regular and deep; keep evenly moist

Uses

Fire Cracker is as decorative as it is fiery. The small slim peppers turn cream, yellow, purple, orange and red all at once, making the plant a striking ornamental in pots and borders. The fruits are edible and quite hot, good for drying into chili flakes, infusing oils and vinegars, or adding a sharp kick to hot sauces and stir-fries. Use them sparingly and enjoy the plant as much as the harvest.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a Fire Cracker pepper take to grow?

Fire Cracker peppers usually begin ripening about 90 days after transplanting, with the little upright fruits coloring up over several weeks. Start seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks before your last frost for the best show.

How hot is a Fire Cracker pepper?

Fire Cracker is genuinely hot, roughly 30,000 to 40,000 Scoville heat units, in the same range as a cayenne. Despite the ornamental looks, the little peppers pack a real kick, so taste with caution.

Are Fire Cracker peppers ornamental or edible?

Both. The compact plant is prized as an ornamental because its small upright peppers turn cream, yellow, purple, orange, and red all at once, but the fruits are fully edible and quite hot, great for drying or adding heat to cooking.

How big does a Fire Cracker pepper plant get?

Fire Cracker stays compact, usually about 10 to 16 inches tall, which makes it ideal for pots, borders, and sunny windowsills. A container is often enough support, though a light stake helps if it gets top-heavy with fruit.

Ready to grow your own? Fire Cracker seeds give you a compact, colorful plant loaded with fiery little peppers. For the full step-by-step, see our complete pepper growing guide linked at the top of this page.

Firecracker Pepper Seeds – Non-GMO HeirloomHeirloom, non-GMOHeirloom Fire Cracker chile — compact, ornamental plant loaded with hot pods.

Price$4.99

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Want more peppers? These value packs pair Fire Cracker with other sweet and hot varieties:

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Pepper Seeds Variety Pack – Non-GMO Heirloom13 super-hot varietiesThirteen fiery chilis for heat lovers, from habanero to the hottest peppers we carry.

Price$19.99Starting at$16.99

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By Maxim Kaufman — Founder & CEO, Organo Republic

Maxim founded Organo Republic in 2017 and personally selects, tests, and grows the heirloom, non-GMO varieties the company offers. Under his leadership, Organo Republic was named Agri Business Review’s Top Non-GMO Seed Variety Solution 2026.