Sweet Pickle

Also known as Christmas Tree Pepper

The Sweet Pickle (also known as Christmas Tree Pepper) is a compact, colorful US heirloom sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum) developed in the mid-20th century. It produces heavy yields of small, thick-walled fruits that ripen through vibrant hues and remain completely sweet (0 SHU), making it ideal for pickling, fresh use, and ornamental garden display.

Growing

~65 days to maturity

Fruit size

4–7 cm

Flavor & Use

Sweet, mild, and crisp with thick walls that provide satisfying crunch and texture; no heat.

Sweetcrispmild with thick satisfying walls

Culinary

Ideal for picklingalso excellent fresh in salads and relishesas garnishesor lightly stuffed. Thick walls hold up well when preserved or frozen. The plants themselves are valued as edible ornamentals.

About

Sweet Pickle (also called Christmas Tree Pepper) is an open-pollinated heirloom variety of Capsicum annuum developed in the United States in the mid-20th century. Compact bushy plants 15-24 inches tall produce heavy yields of small 1-3 inch fruits with thick walls. The peppers ripen in striking sequences through yellow, orange, purple, and red (sometimes starting pale yellow or creamy white), often held upright in clusters that give the plant a festive ornamental appearance. Completely sweet with 0 SHU, they offer a crisp mild flavor and are prized for pickling, fresh salads, relishes, garnishes, and light stuffing while also serving as beautiful edible landscape plants.

Backstory

Mid-20th century United States heirloom developed for home gardeners seeking compact, high-yielding plants with prolific small sweet fruits that double as striking edible ornamentals resembling a Christmas tree when loaded with colorful upright peppers.

Appearance

ShapeTapered
ColorYellow · Orange · Purple · Red
Size4–7 cm
WallThick
SkinSmooth

Growing

SunFull
WaterModerate
ClimateTemperate
Days to maturity65 days
Plant height38–60 cm
Soil pH6–6.8
Germination7–14 days
Spacing60 cm
HardinessZones 4-11

Heritage

We don't have a documented family for this pepper yet.

Sources