Bull Nose

Bull Nose is a historic sweet bell pepper associated with early American gardens. Thomas Jefferson recorded “Bull nose” capsicum in his Monticello garden calendar in 1812, and the variety continues to be grown and sold through Monticello.

Plants are commonly listed at about 46–61 cm tall. Fruit are pendant, thick-fleshed, and ripen from green to red. Typical pod size is about 9–11.5 cm long and 8–9 cm wide.

It is generally described as sweet, though some sources note a faint, occasional tingle of heat in the inner ribs. This slight heat is reported as inconsistent and may vary by strain or growing conditions.

Most US heirloom sources frame it as an early American or colonial-era pepper linked to Monticello and 1800s seed trade. At least one European seed listing claims a historical origin in India and references old French market-garden catalog material, but does not provide a clear chain of evidence tying that claim to the specific “Bull Nose” name used in the United States.

The name “Bull Nose” also appears in 1800s seed catalog listings alongside other bell-type names such as “Improved Large Bell”, suggesting the term has been applied to closely related bell peppers over time. Modern strains may not be genetically identical to the plant recorded in 1812.