Many succulents in the Peperomia family have small flower buds that look just like the green jalapeno pepper in its early growth stage. The Peperomia fraseri has green buds that look like small green peppers before they flower out. The Peperomia nivalis grows jalapeno-pepper-shaped leaves up the stalk, which can fool you if you don't know your plants. The bottom puffy leaves are a lighter green than the top half, which is a darker green but still lighter than a jalapeno pepper.
The Christmas cactus looks like some of the vibrant red miniature pepper plants until you get closer and see the spines on the leaves. All cactus plants are succulents, and they are found in the arid Southwest United States and Mexico. Many of these, in both small and giant sizes, have the elongated pepper pod shape but have nothing in common with peppers. Barrel cactus contains water that humans can use if lost in the desert. Cactus "candy" is the flower pods on some cactus plants that are nutritious in a pinch.
Succulent vegetables that have pepper body shapes include cucumbers, eggplant, okra, radishes and several types of squash. All of these retain water while growing, and in the early stages, they can look like peppers because of the pepper body shapes particular to various species. Small cucumbers, okra and green squash, similar to cucumbers, look like the green jalapeno pepper pods. The difference is that vegetables are dug out of the ground, while peppers grow on plants above the ground.
The succulent aloe vera is not a cactus, although it is often planted in the same beds with other cacti because it needs the same type of soil. The aloe plant's thick spongy leaves, which look like a variation of a pepper plant pod, contain a sticky substance that is used on skin scratches, sunburns and other wounds. This is a valuable plant that no kitchen or home should be without. Keep some planted and growing in a kitchen window.