NuMex Twilight

A compact ornamental chile developed at New Mexico State University with striking multi-colored fruit that progresses from purple to yellow, orange, and red. Small piquin-type peppers deliver surprising heat in the 30,000–50,000 SHU range while remaining fully edible.

NuMex Twilight is a highly ornamental yet edible Capsicum annuum cultivar released in 1994 by the Chile Pepper Institute at New Mexico State University. Selected from a Jalisco, Mexico accession (NMCA 10488) for compact growth and vibrant fruit display, the plant reaches 12–24 inches tall with dense upright clusters of tiny bullet-shaped peppers measuring about 0.75 by 0.5 inches. Immature fruit start purple, then ripen through yellow and orange stages before turning brilliant red at full maturity, often displaying all colors simultaneously on the same plant for weeks. The peppers have thin flesh and a moderate flavor profile that begins surprisingly salty before shifting to a bitter-bright note. While primarily grown for their rainbow aesthetic in containers, patios, and garden borders, they are hot enough (30,000–50,000 Scoville heat units) to use sparingly in salsas, salads, pickles, and dried spice blends. Plants are productive, disease-resistant, and thrive in full sun with well-drained soil, maturing in 80–90 days from transplant.