R.H. Lilac UFO x Golden Nugget
R.H. Lilac UFO x Golden Nugget Pepper Seeds The Ultimate Variegated "Flying Saucer" Pepper · Quick Facts: · Heat: 30,000–50,000 SHU (Medium-Hot) · · Fruit Size: 1.5" Wide, saucer-shaped/squashed pods · · Maturity: 80–90 Days ...
- Days to maturity
- 85 days
- Seeds per packet
- 10
- Season
- 2026
R.H. Lilac UFO x Golden Nugget Pepper Seeds
The Ultimate Variegated "Flying Saucer" Pepper
Quick Facts:
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Heat: 30,000–50,000 SHU (Medium-Hot)
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Fruit Size: 1.5" Wide, saucer-shaped/squashed pods
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Maturity: 80–90 Days
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Quantity: 10+ Seeds/Packet
A Cosmic Collision of Color 🛸✨ The R.H. Lilac UFO x Golden Nugget is one of the most visually captivating hybrids in our 2026 collection. By crossing the famous "flying saucer" shaped Lilac UFO with the heavily variegated Golden Nugget, we’ve created a plant that is pure garden theater. You can expect high-contrast, marbled foliage (green, white, and purple) and clusters of pods that look like tiny, glowing spacecraft.
👨🍳 Chef’s Pitch:
"The shape of these peppers is what makes them so fun to work with. Because they are squashed and wide, they have a fantastic crunch-to-flesh ratio. They start a brilliant, neon lilac-purple and transition through shades of amber before hitting a deep golden-orange. They are medium-hot with a clean, 'apple-like' sweetness. I love to pickle these whole; they look incredible in a clear jar and retain a great snap."
👅 Flavor Profile:
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Crisp & Sweet: A bright, sweet start with a sharp, immediate heat that doesn't overstay its welcome.
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Heat Level: Medium-Hot (30,000–50,000 SHU) — Similar to a Serrano or a very hot Jalapeño.
🍴 Culinary Versatility:
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Whole Pickling: Their unique UFO shape makes them a conversation starter when served whole on a charcuterie board.
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Colorful Stir-Frys: Toss in lilac and gold pods together for a high-contrast visual pop.
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Spicy "Poppers": Though small, their shape allows you to slice them in half and top them with a tiny dollop of goat cheese for a gourmet appetizer.
🌱 Growing Notes:
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Variegation & Light: The white and purple marbling on the leaves is most intense in full sun. In lower light, the plant will stay greener.
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Compact Habit: Stays bushy and manageable (under 24 inches), making it perfect for your best ornamental pots.
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Heavy Producer: Expect a high yield of "saucers" that hang elegantly from the branches.
🇨🇦 Short Season Pro-Tip (Montreal/Zone 5-6):
"In our Montreal climate, this variety is a star. Because the pods are relatively small and thin-walled, they ripen much faster than larger bells or habaneros. If you want to see the full color spectrum, don't harvest them all at once! Leave some lilac pods on the plant while others turn gold to create a 'rainbow' effect that is sure to make your neighbors jealous."
Start indoors 8–10 weeks before last frost. Germinate at 26–30 °C on a heat mat; peppers stall below 22 °C. Pot up to 10–15 cm before hardening off outside after nights stay above 12 °C.
Feed balanced through bloom, then bump potassium for fruiting. Stake taller varieties. More detail in our full Canadian growing guide.
Match the pepper to the technique: thin-walled varieties blister fast in a hot pan; thick-walled ones roast or stuff beautifully; fruit-forward ones make balanced sauces and pickles. The variety's flavour profile is your shortcut — see Choosing the right pepper for a use-case guide.




