5 Incredible Sweet Peppers That Actually Love Florida Heat

Last Updated on February 26, 2026 by Homegrown Florida

I’ve tried growing bell peppers in Florida more times than I can count and most of the time, they just didn’t work out. The plants would grow fine, sometimes even beautifully, but the fruit? Tiny, slow to develop, and not worth the space they took up. After years of disappointment, I started experimenting with other types of sweet peppers, and it completely changed my garden.

These five sweet peppers are all sweet, productive, and way more reliable in Florida’s heat and humidity. Most of them are from Central or South America, and they act more like hot peppers in the garden with fast growth, constant flowering, and loads of fruit. If you’ve struggled with bell peppers like I did, give these a try instead.

This post may contain affiliate links.  Read full disclosure here.

1. Cubanelle

Cubanelle peppers are one of the most productive sweet peppers I’ve ever grown. The plants start putting out flowers early and don’t stop. Even when they don’t size up fully, the sheer number of sweet peppers makes up for it. They can be picked green, yellow, or red, depending on how sweet and ripe you want them.

Flavor-wise, they’re mild and a little tangy; somewhere between a banana pepper and a bell. They’re perfect for sautéing, stuffing, or slicing raw into a salad. I’ve found them incredibly reliable even in the peak of summer. If you only try one sweet pepper from this list, Cubanelle is a great place to start.

2. Paprika

Most people know paprika as a spice, but not everyone realizes it comes from a specific type of sweet pepper. These red sweet peppers are beautiful, productive, and surprisingly easy to grow. There are different types: Hungarian, Spanish, and more but I grow the sweet ones.

What I love most is how rich and sweet the flavor becomes when the peppers are fully ripened and dehydrated. Homemade paprika powder has way more flavor than anything you’ll find in a store. These plants do well in the heat, though like many peppers, they’ll slow down a little in midsummer and pick back up again later in the season.

3. Lesya

Lesya peppers are hands down the sweetest pepper I’ve ever tasted. They’re originally from Ukraine and have this floral, juicy sweetness that’s honestly hard to describe. It’s almost like candy. I don’t even like raw bell peppers, but I’ll eat Lesya sweet peppers raw all day long.

The plants stay small and compact but are incredibly productive. Even in the summer heat, they keep going. I regret only planting two of them. I’ll definitely be growing more next season. These are the kind of peppers you eat straight from the garden as a snack, and I highly recommend trying them if you want something really special.

4. Aji dulce

The Aji Dulce is a small, wrinkly pepper that looks like a habanero but tastes nothing like one. It’s completely sweet, with no heat at all, and the plant is a total workhorse. Mine grows from spring through fall without any kind of pause, even in the middle of a Florida summer.

I’ve had the same plant come back year after year with just a little winter protection. It can get huge and bush out to produce a ton of little red peppers. They’re not impressive when green, but if you wait until they turn red and especially if you let them wrinkle a little, the flavor is incredible. It’s one of the most productive peppers I’ve ever grown.

5. Iquitos

The Iquitos pepper surprised me in the best way. It’s from Peru, and the plant structure is really unique. It branches at the base and grows like a sturdy little shrub. I didn’t prune it at all, and it naturally developed a compact, bushy shape that’s super stable, even without a trellis.

These sweet peppers are small, round, and slightly pumpkin-shaped. I’ve eaten most of them before they’ve had a chance to ripen because they’re just that good. Sweet, crisp, and refreshing. I’m not even sure what color they ripen to yet because I keep snacking on them green, but I can’t wait to find out. This one’s a new favorite for sure, and I’ll be growing it again.

Check out My Favorite Veggie Varieties for a full breakdown of all fruits and veggies that I have had success with growing in my Florida garden.

If you’re looking for even more detailed guidance on growing veggies here in Florida—like when to start seeds, how to manage pests, and what varieties really thrive—don’t forget to check out my ebook! It’s got a chapter for every single vegetable and is packed with everything I’ve learned over the years gardening in Florida.

If bell peppers have been a letdown in your Florida garden, you’re not alone. The varieties we see in grocery stores just aren’t built for this hot climate. But these five sweet peppers have totally turned things around for me. They’re tough, productive, flavorful, and better suited for Florida’s long, hot growing seasons. Happy gardening!