Mattapeno x Purple Flash

Mattapeno x Purple Flash is a Capsicum annuum hybrid from Matt's Peppers, built on the variegated jalapeño genetics of Mattapeno and the dark ornamental foliage background of Purple Flash. It was shown publicly by Matt in November 2022 as an F2 cross, and later circulated in Matt's Laboratory as an F4, placing it firmly in the modern hobby-breeding scene rather than among older named cultivars.

The plant is described as compact and well suited to containers, usually around 50.0 to 70.0 cm tall, with fruits about 4.0 to 5.0 cm long and about 5 to 10 mm wide. Seller descriptions emphasise fleshy, fruity pods with medium heat, while grow-outs show that the line can produce a wide spread of foliage types, including white-leaved Mattapeno-like plants, purple plants, and purple-cream variegated plants. F3 seedling reports also describe purple cotyledons and early white variegation, showing that the foliage expression is one of the main visual traits of this cross.

Its strongest identity is ornamental-edible rather than purely culinary. The Purple Flash side contributes dark foliage architecture and ornamental colour, while the Mattapeno side contributes the variegated jalapeño look and usable jalapeño-range heat. The result is a compact annuum line grown for colourful foliage, unusual seedlings, and small fleshy pods rather than for extreme heat.