Green bells are immature. They turn colors when ripe, the color depending on which variety you are growing. Most turn red. Others are just about rainbow colored, ranging from red to yellow to somewhat purple to almost black. It takes time and patience and a careful watch for insects and diseases to get to the colored stage. (I don't know of any that stay green through maturity but there may be some that do.) The mature ones taste differently, usually much milder and sweeter.

Sandy

Concur for the most part. Green bells are normally immature bells. Like tomatoes there are several green when ripe bells like Staysgreen and Evergreen. Ripe bells will be Red, Orange or Yellow. What most folks call colored bells are various shades of purple when immature. There are afew that are almost white, and some so deep purple they are called black. They all ripen to red tho.
This typical of a colored bell, They actually get full red. {{gwi:33348}} {{gwi:33349}}

Basically all peppers turn some sort of other color(or colors) when they get mature. There is only one variety of green pepper that stays green when mature that I know of.

I think that the plants that they sell as colored peppers are usually varieties where the time it takes to turn color is shorter than those varieties they sell as green bells.

Thanks so much! I really appreciate the replies and the information!

I was confused too when I saw separate plants or seeds being marketed as green bells or red bells when I always thought they were the immature and mature versions of the same thing.

So I guess it is mainly a marketing thing, coupled maybe with some varieties that stay green longer than others.

Ripe peppers are so much yummier though.

I planted both California Wonder and California Golden Wonder bells this year. The first went from green - brown - red. The Goldens went from green - yellow - golden and I haven't waited past the golden point to see if they'll turn red too. Maybe later in the year when it cools off I'll let a couple go to see what happens. Too hot for now.