Count Mattcula

Count Mattcula is Matt’s Peppers’ name for the Mattapeño × Count Dracula cross and is currently circulated as an F5 hybrid line. Across seller descriptions, one consistent selection trait is that the preferred “keeper” plants are the ones showing variegated foliage early in growth.

A detailed seed listing for this exact cross describes it as a compact, container-friendly plant reaching about 50.0–80.0 cm in height, with an 80–90 day growing window and fruits around 4.0–6.0 cm long and 1.0–1.5 cm in diameter. That same listing gives a heat range of 2,500–8,000 SHU, which is why 8,000 SHU is used here as the single-number entry.

The visual identity of Count Mattcula is the main reason it is grown. Pods can begin cream-white with distinct green striping, then shift through green, sometimes peach, and eventually mature to dark purple and bright red. A separate listing describes the pods more simply as ripening from dark purple to bright red, which broadly matches the Count Dracula influence but does not fully align with the longer ripening sequence described elsewhere.

Foliage expression is also highly variable. Sellers describe a wide range within the same line, including plants with heavy cream-white variegation, purple tones, purple-cream foliage, and even occasional narrow or needle-like leaves.

One inconsistent point online is taxonomy. The cross is generally discussed as a jalapeño-type annuum hybrid and grow-tracking entries commonly list it as Capsicum annuum, which fits the stated parentage. However, at least one seller labels it as Capsicum chinense, which does not match the parent cross and appears to be a misclassification.