Mattapeño x Candy Cane Chocolate Cherry

Mattapeño x Candy Cane Chocolate Cherry is a variegated Capsicum annuum hybrid circulated in the striped and variegated pepper scene, commonly associated with genetics from Matt Ohlendorf of Matt’s Peppers.

The defining traits sought in this cross are variegated foliage and candy-cane style striping on the pods. Seller descriptions state that fruits begin green with white or cream striping and ripen into chocolate-red tones while retaining pale striping through maturity.

Pod shape is reported as variable. Some fruits are striped and jalapeño-shaped, reflecting the Mattapeño side, while others grow longer and larger, showing stronger influence from Candy Cane Chocolate Cherry. One seller gives a rough growing timeline of 90+ days to harvest.

Heat reporting is inconsistent. One seller describes the cross as having very little heat, while a grower post about the F1 generation describes it as quite hot. A value of 5000 SHU is used here as a middle-ground estimate that fits that split, reading as mild to moderate depending on the grower and point of comparison.

Because this is a modern hobby hybrid rather than a formal registered cultivar, expression can vary between plants and generations, especially in pod shape, striping intensity, and heat.