About Fresno Pepper
Fresno Peppers are often mistaken for red jalapeños but offer unique flavor profile. Named after Fresno, California, these peppers rate 2,500-10,000 SHU – similar to jalapeños but with fruitier, slightly smoky flavor. The main difference from jalapeños is thinner walls and smokier taste. Fresnos are typically allowed to ripen to red, which develops their signature sweet-heat combination. They’re excellent fresh in salsas, pickled for toppings, or blended into hot sauces. The fruity heat makes them perfect for seafood dishes and ceviche. Very reliable, productive plants.
Flavor profile
Fruity, slightly smoky with moderate heat
In the kitchen
Salsas, hot sauces, ceviche, jalapeño substitute
Growing information
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Days to harvest
- 70-80 days
- Plant height
- 24-30 inches
Sources
- Website or article Know The Pepper — Ultimate Pepper Heat Database (opens in a new tab)
- Website or article Wikimedia Commons — Fresno pepper 4.jpg (opens in a new tab)
Sources are added by editors when they verify a fact. Fields without a listed source are recorded from imports or model suggestions and shown as unreviewed until checked.
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Piquillo Pepper
1,000 – 2,000 SHU
Same species and mild heat
Matches are rule based: same species and heat band first, then origin, then heat band. Compare with the top two →
Reviews & ratings
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