Never would I have expected Home Depot's garden center to become my pepper paradise! Beyond basic bells and jalapeños, I discovered everything from sweet Italian roasters and miniature snacking peppers to rare Mexican heirlooms and heat-packed Caribbean varieties. With most plants priced at $4.98, this unexpected pepper wonderland offers incredible variety for every heat preference, growing space, and culinary adventure. I've documented all 29 varieties I found, and you need to see them!
Anaheim Chile Pepper Plants: Kitchen Garden Heat Machines ($4.98)
These Anaheim pepper seedlings make a wonderful addition to any vegetable garden! They're priced at just $4.98 each, perfect for anyone looking to add some mild heat to their patch. What makes Anaheims particularly well-suited for beginner gardeners is their forgiving nature: they grow beautifully in containers and adapt well to different conditions.
The thick-walled fruits transition from green to red as they ripen, giving you options for harvesting at different stages. My favorite way to use these is actually grilled and stuffed with cheese, which makes perfect sense given their "chile relleno" reputation. Unlike their spicier cousins, Anaheims bring a gentle warmth that even heat-sensitive folks can enjoy.
Hot Cayenne Pepper Plants: Spice Cabinet Essentials ($4.98)
The slender-leaved Cayenne pepper seedlings represent a kitchen garden classic for heat lovers. At $4.98 per pot, they offer impressive value considering their prolific nature; these plants continue producing throughout the entire growing season. Cayennes feature thin-walled red peppers perfect for drying and making homemade hot sauce or spice blends.
Pepper enthusiasts will appreciate their reliability, as they're ready to harvest about 85 days after planting. The intense heat they bring might intimidate beginners, but even novice gardeners can successfully grow these resilient plants with basic care.
Habanero Hot Pepper Plants: Heat Seeker's Treasure ($4.98)
Habanero peppers stand as the undisputed royalty in the world of serious heat. Priced at a budget-friendly $4.98 each, these seedlings deliver extraordinary value considering the powerful punch they pack, a whopping ten times hotter than jalapeños. The beautiful lantern-shaped fruits mature to a vibrant orange after about 95 days, creating quite the spectacle in any garden space.
Habaneros grow wonderfully in containers, making them perfect for patio gardens or limited spaces. Despite their fearsome reputation, the plants themselves are surprisingly accommodating for less experienced gardeners, provided they receive adequate sunlight and support.
Thai Hot Pepper Plants: Double-Duty Garden Stunners ($4.98)
Who knew something so fiery could look so elegant? Thai Hot peppers serve as both garden eye candy and culinary powerhouses with their upright growing habit and vibrant fruits. The compact growth pattern makes them particularly suited for container gardening on patios or balconies where space comes at a premium.
Ready for the best part? Each 4.5" pot rings up at just $4.98. From curry pastes to stir-fries, these peppers deliver that distinctive Thai flavor profile that's nearly impossible to replicate with substitutes.
Shishito Sweet Pepper Plants: Japanese Culinary Stars ($4.98)
Japanese cuisine enthusiasts will recognize these delicate Shishito peppers immediately. The plants are already adorned with white blossoms that eventually develop into the slender green peppers most commonly harvested before they ripen. Unlike many of their spicy relatives, Shishitos offer a mild, sweet flavor profile perfect for more sensitive palates, though gardeners should note the occasional surprise hot one that adds to their mystique.
Supporting these plants helps them produce their best yield, and they flourish in containers for those with limited garden space. The $4.98 investment per pot is an absolute bargain.
Serrano Hot Pepper Plants: Mexican Garden Gold ($4.98)
Serrano peppers deserve a special spot in any heat-lover's garden with their distinctive candle-shaped fruits and impressive productivity! Ready to harvest around 80 days after planting, these sturdy plants produce abundantly throughout the growing season.
Serranos pack more punch than jalapeños but remain approachable enough for most spice enthusiasts. The bright green fruits are perfect for authentic pico de gallo, adding that characteristic heat that makes homemade salsa stand out. Considering how many peppers each plant produces, these seedlings offer exceptional value.
Cajun Belle Spicy Bell Pepper: An Award-Winning Hybrid ($4.98)
Hello, gorgeous pepper with an identity crisis! The Cajun Belle perfectly bridges the gap between sweet bells and spicy pepper. Ready to harvest in just 60 days, they transform from green to a stunning red. I'm thinking stuffed appetizers that will have friends asking for your secret ingredient.
Priced at $4.98, the same as regular peppers, these award-winning plants deliver way more personality per dollar. They don't demand sprawling garden space, and their compact nature means even my notoriously crowded raised beds could squeeze in another pepper plant.
Jalapeño Hot Pepper Plants: True Garden Essential ($9.98)
Look who's living large! These jalapeño plants come in a hefty gallon size. For $9.98, you're getting a serious head start on your pepper season with established plants ready to hit the ground running. Jalapeños might be the celebrities of the chile world, but there's a reason for their fame: they strike that perfect balance between noticeable heat and everyday usability.
The medium spice level makes them approachable enough for family meals but still zingy enough for other elevated dishes. What I love about jalapeños is their versatility in the garden; they're practically bullet-proof for beginners but still rewarding for experienced gardeners.
More Jalapeño Hot Pepper Plants ($4.98)
For gardeners watching their budget, these compact jalapeño seedlings deliver the same spicy punch as their larger siblings, but at nearly half the price! At just $4.98, these 4.5" pots are perfect starter plants for anyone looking to add moderate heat to their garden lineup.
Bonnie Green Bell Pepper Plants: Kitchen Garden Cornerstone ($9.98)
The vegetable garden MVP has arrived! These Bonnie Green Bell peppers come in substantial gallon containers at $9.98, giving you weeks of growth advantage over smaller seedlings. What makes these particular plants worth their "Hot Seller" designation is their improved hybrid vigor that helps them power through common pepper growing challenges.
For gardening newbies, bell peppers deliver that instant gratification factor. Watching them grow from little green knobs to glossy, substantial fruits is incredibly rewarding! Ideal for containers or garden beds, they're the friendly, everyone-loves-them pepper that deserves prime real estate in your garden plan.
Mammoth Jalapeño Pepper Plants: Supersized Spice Factories ($4.98)
The name alone made me read the label multiple times. Mammoth Jalapeños sound like something from a gardener's fantasy...all the familiar jalapeño flavor we love but in an extra-large package that's perfect for stuffing. At $4.98, these plants are a total steal considering the novelty factor and practical advantages of bigger peppers.
Ready to harvest in approximately 75 days, these giants grow true to their name, producing smooth, substantial peppers that maintain that classic medium heat level jalapeños are known for. Size definitely matters when you're making jalapeño poppers or stuffed appetizers. The plants support themselves well but may need stakes once loaded with their oversized fruits. For anyone tired of puny peppers, this variety offers a fun twist on a garden staple.
Cajun Belle Spicy Bell Pepper: Two-in-One Flavor Champion ($4.98)
Cajun Belle peppers are the solution for gardeners who can never decide between sweet or spicy! These award-winning peppers deliver that perfect hint of heat wrapped in sweet bell pepper flavor. Priced reasonably at $4.98, they're ready for harvest about 60 days after planting.
The compact plants produce abundantly in containers or raised beds, making them perfect for small-space veggie patches. Unlike regular bells that sometimes struggle in extreme heat, these tough little hybrids keep producing through summer's worst moods. My favorite part? Their perfectly snackable 2-3" size means no leftovers languishing in the fridge.
Liberty Bell Pepper Plants: Sunshine in Veggie Form ($5.98)
Golden bells are such garden eye candy. These Liberty Bell peppers shine with their cheerful yellow color that brightens any veggie patch. Part of the premium Harvest Select line at $5.98, the "abundant harvest" promise isn't just marketing. Yellow peppers typically produce longer than green varieties, extending your harvest season substantially. Their sweet, almost fruity flavor makes them my absolute favorite for summer salads, where they add both color and a milder, less grassy taste than green bells.
Carmen Italian Sweet Pepper Plants: Mediterranean Magic Makers ($5.98)
Italian sweet peppers might be the garden world's best-kept secret! These Carmen peppers from the premium Harvest Select line had me lingering in the pepper aisle longer than planned. The elongated horn-shaped fruits offer the perfect balance of sweetness and that distinctive pepper flavor that elevates simple dishes to restaurant quality.
Carmen peppers reach maturity faster than traditional bells, ready to pick green but absolutely magnificent when allowed to ripen to their full ruby-red glory. I've found these sweet Italian types to be more heat-tolerant than standard bells, continuing to produce even during those brutal August heatwaves when other pepper varieties take a break.
Early Flame Jalapeño Pepper Plants: Speed Demons of Spice ($5.98)
Impatient pepper lovers, rejoice! These Early Flame jalapeños are the answer to that painful wait for first harvests. Part of the premium Harvest Select line at $5.98, this pepper variety delivers precisely what its name promises:jalapeños that race to maturity faster than standard varieties.
Their compact growth habit makes them ideal for containers and small spaces, delivering impressive yields without demanding much real estate. For salsa gardeners, these Early Flames paired with quick-maturing determinate tomatoes mean you'll be enjoying homemade salsa while your neighbors are still staring at green fruits!
Hot Banana Pepper Plants: Summer Heat Survivors ($4.98)
Hungarian wax peppers might be the secret champions of the summer garden! These Hot Banana pepper plants offer that perfect middle-ground heat level. Priced at $4.98, they deliver serious bang for your buck with their promised "heavy yields" that keep coming all season long. The elongated, smooth, waxy fruits mature in about 75 days and maintain production even during those brutal summer heat waves that shut down other varieties.
What I love most about these peppers is their impressive versatility: pickle them for tangy sandwich toppers, stuff them for appetizers, or slice them into salads for a mild kick. Gardeners in hot climates will especially appreciate their heat tolerance when temperatures soar into the 90s and beyond.
Red Bell Pepper Plants: Color Splash Flavor Bombs ($4.98)
Red bells completely transform both gardens and dinner plates! These vibrant peppers start green but eventually mature into gorgeous ruby jewels that boost both nutrition and visual appeal in your meals.
They require patience with their longer 70-80 day maturity time, but the flavor payoff is absolutely worth the wait. Sweet, rich, and developed, red bells lack the slightly bitter edge of green peppers, making them particularly delicious when grilled or roasted. The plants grow beautifully in containers, perfect for patio gardeners or those with limited space. I've found that giving bell peppers a slow-release organic fertilizer at planting time significantly increases yields.
Yellow Bell Pepper Plants: Sunshine on the Vine ($4.98)
Yellow bell peppers bring tropical vacation vibes straight to your backyard garden. Their sunny golden color isn't just pretty; it signals a distinct flavor that's sweeter and fruitier than green bells, with none of the slight bitterness. Priced at a reasonable $4.98, these plants take patience with their 70-80 day maturity time, but reward gardeners with show-stopping fruits that transform ordinary salads into something special.
Container gardeners can grow these beauties successfully in smaller spaces, though they'll appreciate a bit more room than hot peppers. My personal favorite way to enjoy these sweet gems is simply sliced raw with hummus.
Orange Bell Pepper Plants: Sunset-Hued Sweet Treats ($4.98)
Orange bell peppers might be the perfect balance in the sweet pepper spectrum! With their tangerine-colored glow, these beauties offer a flavor that lands right between the fruity sweetness of yellows and the deeper richness of reds. Each 4.5" pot costs $4.98.
The plants themselves grow with the classic pepper habit, adapting well to both in-ground gardens and containers for patio growing. While they need the same patience as other colored bells (75-80 days to full maturity), their stunning visual impact in both garden beds and on dinner plates makes the wait worthwhile.
Lunchbox Red Pepper Plants: Perfectly Portable Snackers ($4.98)
The plant that'll revolutionize your garden snacking game! These adorable mini sweet peppers are perfectly sized for lunchboxes and little hands. Priced at $4.98, Lunchbox Reds mature to a beautiful crimson after about 75 days, offering all the nutritional benefits of full-sized bells in a convenient 2-2.5" package.
Their naturally low seed count means more enjoyable eating with less waste - just rinse and toss them whole into lunchboxes or slice for dipping. The compact plants grow beautifully in containers, making them perfect for patio gardens or tucked into smaller spaces.
Lunchbox Orange Pepper Plants: Kid-Friendly Color Bursts ($4.98)
The tangerine-hued sibling to the red Lunchbox peppers brings extra sunshine to garden beds and lunch containers alike! These petite orange snackers deliver concentrated sweet flavor in their small 2-3" fruits that mature in about 75-83 days. At $4.98, they're a smart investment for maximizing harvest from minimal space.
Cubanelle Sweet Pepper Plants: Cooking Stars ($4.98)
I think Cubanelles might be the most underrated peppers in the garden center! These elongated, thin-walled beauties cost just $4.98 and deliver impressive harvests in a remarkably quick 62-65 days.
Their productive nature makes them ideal for smaller spaces or container gardens where maximizing yield matters. The plants themselves develop an attractive, bushy habit that works beautifully in ornamental vegetable gardens.
Coolapeño Pepper Plants: Spice Without the Burn ($4.98)
Now this is a brilliant garden innovation! These Coolapeño plants are the perfect solution for people like my mom who love jalapeño flavor but can't handle the heat. For $4.98, you get all the distinctive jalapeño taste with virtually none of the spicy burn. The classic jalapeño appearance remains intact—same size, same shape, same growing habit—making them visually indistinguishable from their fiery cousins.
The plants produce prolifically and handle summer heat beautifully, making them reliable garden performers. My favorite part? Being able to pop whole slices into recipes without the tedious deseeding process normally required to reduce jalapeño heat.
Sweet Banana Pepper Plants: Mellow Yellow Garden Stars ($4.98)
Sweet Banana peppers are garden workhorses that deserve way more attention! At $4.98, these versatile plants deliver impressive bang for your buck with their prolific nature. The pale yellow, gently curved fruits mature in about 75 days and keep producing straight through summer's worst heat waves when other vegetables take a break.
Their mild, slightly tangy taste works perfectly for pickling, salads, and roasting. I've converted several friends to banana pepper fans with my quick refrigerator pickles. For new gardeners, these forgiving plants build confidence with their reliable performance and impressive yields even in challenging conditions.
Giant Marconi Pepper Plants: Award-Winning Griller ($4.98)
A legitimate award winner in the pepper world! These Giant Marconi beauties earned their All-America Selections status with good reason—they deliver exceptional sweet, smoky flavor in impressive 8-inch fruits. Priced at just $4.98, they're ready to harvest in about 62 days, relatively quick for such substantial peppers.
What sets these apart from other sweet peppers is their distinctive smoky undertone that adds complexity to dishes without any heat. My secret summer entertaining trick? Stuff these massive peppers with herbed goat cheese and grill until lightly charred.
Big Bertha Bell Pepper Plants: Stuffing Champions ($4.98)
The name says it all: these peppers are genuinely massive! Big Bertha plants produce truly impressive 7-inch elongated bells that make standard varieties look positively miniature in comparison. At just $4.98, they're surprisingly affordable for such statement garden plants. Their elongated shape creates extra stuffing capacity that regular bells simply can't match.
For anyone who enjoys stuffed peppers, growing Big Berthas means fewer peppers provide more servings. It's garden math that always makes sense!
Purple Bell Pepper Plant: Garden Color Splashes ($4.98)
Purple bell peppers might be the ultimate garden conversation starter! These stunning beauties add a dramatic pop of unexpected color to both garden beds and dinner plates with their deep purple exterior and surprising green flesh inside. At $4.98, they're an affordable way to elevate your vegetable garden's visual appeal and taste.
I love the idea of growing these alongside traditional colored bells for a rainbow harvest effect that makes summer salads absolutely amazing. While they taste similar to green bells, their dramatic presentation transforms ordinary dishes into something special.
Chili de Arbol Pepper Plants: Fiery Mexican Treasures ($4.98)
Talk about a pepper with personality! These slender, curved Chili de Arbol peppers deliver serious heat with authentic Mexican flavor that grocery store versions simply can't match. Priced at $4.98, each plant becomes a mini pepper factory after the 75-80 day maturity period, producing dozens of the slender, curved fruits that measure about 2-3 inches long.
For gardeners with limited space, their ability to thrive in containers makes them accessible even on small patios or balconies where their vertical growth habit maximizes productivity per square foot.
Sweet Cal Wonder Bell Pepper Seeds: DIY Heritage Project ($2.98)
For gardeners who love starting from scratch (I like to try starting some seeds every year), these organic Sweet Cal Wonder bell pepper seeds offer a budget-friendly pepper adventure! Priced at just $2.98, each packet contains enough seeds to grow dozens of plants. Sweet Cal Wonder bells are a classic variety known for their reliable germination and excellent productivity, perfect for gardeners at any skill level.
For anyone watching their garden budget, these seeds reduce plant costs by about 80% compared to buying started plants. Plus, there's something uniquely rewarding about nurturing peppers through their entire life cycle: from tiny seed to harvest basket.
Cayenne Thin Chili Pepper Seeds: Spice Rack Investment ($2.98)
For just $2.98, this little packet holds the potential for years of homemade chili powder and hot sauce! What makes these particularly economical is their incredible productivity. You can harvest literally hundreds of peppers from just a few plants.
Starting from seed requires a bit more patience than buying plants, but the trade-off is getting to select the strongest seedlings and the satisfaction of nurturing them from day one.
A Pepper Paradise Hidden in Plain Sight
Home Depot has seriously upped their pepper game this season! From sweet to scorching, common to rare, this unexpected treasure trove offers something for every garden and spice preference. The impressive variety, healthy plants, and budget-friendly pricing ($4.98 for most varieties) make this big-box store worth checking before specialty nurseries.
Whether you're creating a rainbow pepper garden, hunting for authentic international varieties, or simply wanting reliable kitchen staples, don't overlook this surprisingly robust collection.
What's your favorite pepper variety to grow, and which of these would you add to your garden this season? Share your pepper plans in the comments!