Carolina Reaper Pepper Plants

The Carolina Reaper is one of the most famous hot peppers in the world, officially recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2013 as the World’s Hottest Pepper. Known for its extreme heat and complex flavor, this legendary variety delivers intense fire balanced by brief notes of sweetness and fruit before the heat fully sets in.

Grown hydroponically in a controlled environment, our Carolina Reaper plants arrive healthy, pest-free, and ready to establish quickly once transplanted.

What You’ll Receive

• Carolina Reaper pepper plant hydroponically grown in rockwool (no soil)

• Plant height at shipping: approximately 4” tall

• Actively growing with a strong, well-developed root system

• Care Instructions

• Bonus: 4-pack orders include a FREE sample compost tea fertilizer

Because our plants are grown hydroponically, they will require an adjustment period and it will take a few weeks for them to acclimate when transplanted into soil or containers. To learn more about our methods and to ensure success, review the sections below Our Live Plant Growing & Shipping Process and When Your Live Pepper Plants Arrive. 

About the Carolina Reaper Pepper

The Carolina Reaper is a Capsicum chinense variety bred for extreme heat and distinctive appearance. Peppers typically feature a rough, bumpy red skin and a pronounced stinger tail, making them instantly recognizable. While the heat is intense, many growers appreciate the pepper’s brief fruity sweetness before the heat fully develops.

• Heat Level: Extremely hot (average ~1,641,000 Scoville Heat Units; individual peppers may exceed 2,000,000 SHU)

• Flavor: Fruity sweetness with subtle notes of cherry and chocolate, followed by intense heat

• Pepper Appearance: Red, bumpy pods with pointed stingers

• Culinary Use: Hot sauces, powders, dehydrated flakes, and ultra-spicy cooking (use sparingly)

Growing & Care Information

• Grower Experience Level: Expert

• Growth Habit: Bushy, productive plant

• Mature Plant Size: 3-5 feet tall

• Pepper Pod Size: Typically 2–3 inches long

• Days to Maturity: Approximately 90–110 days from transplant

• Ways to Grow: In-ground garden beds, raised beds, and large containers with proper drainage

If you’d prefer to start from seed, we also offer Carolina Reaper pepper seeds and Seed Starting Supplies, a great option for growers who enjoy raising plants from the very beginning or planning ahead for future seasons.

Our Live Plant Growing & Shipping Process

At Pepper Joe's, our live pepper plants are grown with care from the very beginning to ensure customers receive strong, healthy plants ready to thrive.

All of our pepper plants are greenhouse grown hydroponically in rockwool, allowing for consistent nutrition, controlled growing conditions, and strong root development. Many varieties are started as early as December, giving plants ample time to mature before shipping season begins in April.

Each plant is grown to approximately 4 inches before being prepared for shipment. Prior to shipping, every plant is individually inspected by a member of our greenhouse team to ensure it meets our quality standards.

Plants are shipped in a protective mini greenhouse made from recycled material, specially sourced to help safeguard live plants during transit. This packaging helps maintain plant structure and reduce stress while traveling to your door.

Want to learn more? Check out our FAQ page or, our blog on how we ship live pepper plants.

When Your Live Pepper Plants Arrive

Your live pepper plants are shipped in custom packaging to protect them during transit. Some mild wilting after shipping is normal and usually resolves quickly.

Upon arrival:

• Gently unbox your plant and inspect it.
  
• The roots are surrounded by rockwool, a lightweight, soil-free growing material that helps retain moisture and protect the roots. Do not remove the rockwool.
  
• Some drooping after shipping is normal. Water immediately upon arrival and allow up to 24 hours for recovery.

• If your plant arrives with significant damage or doesn't improve after 24 hours, please contact us immediately via our contact form.
  

Transplanting:

• Plant the rockwool end 2–3 inches deep into well-draining potting soil using a container at least 1 gallon in size.
  
• Water thoroughly after planting and allow excess moisture to drain.
  

Before moving outdoors:

• Soil temperatures should be 65°F or warmer
  
• Nighttime temperatures should remain above 55°F
  
• No risk of frost
  

Once conditions are right, harden off your new plants gradually by introducing them to outdoor conditions over several days before full sun exposure.

For detailed, step-by-step instructions, visit our Pepper Plant Care page.

If you have any concerns, please reach out through our contact form and our team will be happy to help.

When will my pre-order live plant ship?

• Pre-order live plants begin shipping in April. Orders are fulfilled based on the shipping week you selected at checkout.
• Not sure which week you chose? Log in to your account (or create one using the same email) to view your order details.

All non-Pre-order live plant orders ship the next business day.

Live plants ship only to the contiguous U.S.

Refund & Replacement Policy

We offer a replacement or refund for live plants reported as damaged or unsatisfactory within a reasonable timeframe, typically 48–72 hours after delivery. Clear photos of the plant(s) and packaging may be required to process a claim.

Additional limits:

• We can’t offer refunds or replacements for issues reported more than 7 days after transplanting, as plant health can be affected by factors outside our control.
  
• No refunds or replacements will be issued for dead plants more than 30 days after delivery, under any circumstances.
  
• We offer one replacement per order for all products, including seeds and live plants.
  
• If a replacement is needed but the item is out of stock, we’ll provide a gift card or refund equal to the item value.