Skip to main content

Wondering if peppers are fruits or vegetables? We have your answers

Everything you need to know about pepper classification

A jalapeno on a wooden table
Ray_Shrewsberry / Pixabay

Whether you prefer mild bell peppers or spicy ghost peppers, most people can agree that peppers make for a colorful, flavorful addition to meals and gardens. They aren’t difficult to grow at home, and there are so many different kinds of peppers to experiment with. If you’ve grown them before, you might be confused about how to categorize them. They grow from flowers like fruits, but we refer to them as vegetables, and sometimes as a spice.

If you’ve ever been curious about how plants are categorized, then this guide is for you! We’ll explain the differences and similarities between fruits, vegetables, and spices, and which one peppers actually are.

A person harvesting a yellow bell pepper
A Kisel / Shutterstock

What is a fruit?

Fruit is a botanical term for a specific part of the plant. They form from flowers, typically after the flower has been pollinated, and carry the seeds of the plant. Fruits that form without pollination will usually be seedless. There are different types of fruit, such as berries (like blueberries), drupes (like peaches), aggregate fruits (like raspberries), and multiple fruits (like pineapples).

The different kinds of fruit are distinguished by differences in their structures or in how they’re formed. However, all fruits are formed from the flowers of the plant, making them fairly easy to identify. This is good news if you’re dealing with an unfamiliar plant. As long as you know that what you’re looking for is a fruit, you have a good idea of which part of the plant to look at.

Not everything that is a fruit is called a fruit, though. Tomatoes, eggplants, avocados, and cucumbers are all fruits. In fact, they’re all berries! But even though they’re fruits, they are primarily referred to as vegetables. This is because they aren’t as sweet as other fruits.

Red and orange peppers growing
Jeppe Vadgaard / Unsplash

What is a vegetable?

While a fruit is identified by how it forms, vegetables are identified by how we use them. The only hard and fast rule about vegetables is that they must be edible. The entire plant doesn’t have to be edible, but the part in question does. Vegetables are also typically more savory and less sweet and are often eaten with a protein. These last two points are especially important when it comes to identifying fruits that are also vegetables.

The thing that makes tomatoes, eggplants, avocados, and cucumbers different from apples, pears, and oranges isn’t how they form, but the ways we eat them. On the other hand, vegetables that aren’t fruit, such as celery, potatoes, and onions, are vegetables primarily because they are edible. We also tend to eat these vegetables in savory meals and with protein, but this is less important. They would be vegetables even if we didn’t eat them this way because there isn’t really anything else they could be.

Growing chili peppers
khan3145 / Shutterstock

What are peppers?

Peppers are both fruits and vegetables. They grow from the flowers of plants in the Capsicum genus, forming once the flower has been pollinated. In the center of the pepper plant are the seeds, which are sometimes removed before cooking, but not always. The way they grow marks peppers as a colorful fruit, specifically a berry. All peppers are fruits, as well. Although they come in a range of different colors, tastes, and heat levels, they’re all peppers. Even black pepper, which isn’t actually related to other peppers, is the dried and ground fruit of the plant Piper nigrum.

Peppers are also vegetables, for the most part. Bell peppers, chili peppers, banana peppers, and all the other similar peppers are vegetables. They can be eaten cooked or raw, with or without seeds, and are much more savory than they are sweet.

Several potted pepper plants
Vitaliy Karimov / Shutterstock

Are peppers a spice?

Now that you know if peppers are a fruit or a vegetable, you might be wondering if they are a spice. The answer lies in how we define spices. Spices are parts of vegetables, usually ones with strong smells or flavors, that have been dried and sometimes crushed. They can be made from the seeds, fruit, leaves, or even bark of plants, and that includes peppers.

So while peppers are not themselves spices, they can become a spice if they are dried. If you’ve ever added red pepper flakes or a chili powder to your food, then you’re already familiar with spices made from peppers! However, most peppers are used both as vegetables and as spices. The exception to this is black pepper, which is not actually related to other peppers. Black pepper is primarily used as a spice.

Unripe peppers growing
Vrlibs Studio / Unsplash

Why does it matter?

It can be very helpful to know how plants grow and how they’re used. In this case, knowing that peppers are both fruits and vegetables tells you quite a bit about them. It tells you that peppers grow from the flowers of the plant, so you know to keep an eye on your pepper plant once it blooms and to avoid using any pesticides that harm pollinators. However, since it’s also a vegetable you know that peppers aren’t as sweet and juicy as other berries. Although you can eat them just like you would an apple, you won’t be getting the best pepper experience.

Now that your curiosity has been satisfied regarding pepper classification, you can go forth and add them to your meals and gardens. They’re a great way to add a pop of color and flavor to your meals, and they can certainly be handy if you’re a fan of spicy foods. No matter how you like to use your peppers, or which kinds you prefer, hopefully, this guide has set you on your way to the salsa, stir-fry, or soup of your dreams!

Editors' Recommendations

Cayla Leonard
Cayla Leonard is a writer from North Carolina who is passionate about plants.  She enjoys reading and writing fiction and…
Growing squash vertically is easy with these simple tips
How to successfully add squash to your vertical garden
White squash growing on trellis

From delicious pumpkin pie to savory grilled zucchini, the squash family has something for everyone. It's no wonder so many gardeners want to add them to their gardens! In addition to being delicious, squash are easy to grow vegetables, and they come in so many different varieties you're almost guaranteed to find one that fits your gardening style.

The problem is that squash take up a lot of room. The vines will grow over anything, potentially even your other plants, and tend to climb out of their beds into the yard, walkways, or whatever else is in their path. The solution to this? Grow them vertically! If you've never tried growing squash vertically, this simple guide will help get you started.

Read more
When should you harvest watermelons? What you need to know
Get the timing right for your watermelon harvest
Freshly cut watermelon slices

Knowing when to harvest watermelons can be tricky, especially if you’re used to growing crops like tomatoes, where there’s an obvious physical change (like turning from green to red) that indicates ripeness. Watermelons go through more subtle changes, so they can be difficult to spot if you don't know what to look for. If you're wondering if your watermelons are ready to harvest, this is the guide for you. We'll break down everything you need to know about when to harvest watermelons for the perfect summer snack!

How to tell your watermelons are ready for harvesting
Most watermelon varieties are ready to harvest roughly 1 month after the plant has bloomed, or 2 to 3 months after planting your watermelon seeds. The exact time can vary depending on the type of watermelons you're growing, what the weather has been like, and whether all the plant's needs have been met.

Read more
Are you asking, ‘Why is my tomato plant wilting?’ Here’s how to be the hero in your garden
Properly water and inspect your tomatoes to prevent (or treat) wilting
Tomatoes on a tomato plant

Tomatoes are probably the most popular veggies grown at home. Even novice growers can grow these plants with little to no experience in growing anything. Even better, many of these beginners are successful because tomatoes are so easy to care for and grow in your own home. However, one of the most common questions about growing tomatoes is, "Why is my tomato plant wilting?" Well, it could be due to a few reasons. We'll take a look at them here and give you tips on how to get your tomato plants back into tip-top shape. 

Why do people grow tomato plants?
Let's first talk about why you want to grow tomato plants. Growing tomatoes at home has a lot of benefits. First, they're healthier than store-bought tomatoes, and they taste better, too! There's no denying that tomatoes grown at home have a richer flavor. Once you eat your own tomatoes, you'll likely find the store-bought ones flat and watery by comparison.

Read more