15 Types of Peperomia Plants for Indoors with Names and Pictures
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Peperomia Varieties are popular tropical plants which easily adapt to a wide range of growing conditions. The great variety of their beautiful foliage, texture and growth habits qualify them for any plant collection. Typically, they prefer shadier conditions with more humidity. Some might even require a terrarium or a bottle garden to maintain high humidity.
The succulent Peperomia should be treated like cacti and other succulents, as they can tolerate more light and will survive a dry cold period, during which they are watered very rarely. Most Peperomia require loose, rich, well-drained soil and like to dry out to some extent or even completely between waterings.
One of the major reason you may lose your Peperomia is through root-rot due to over-watering or soggy soil. Therefore, take care not to overwater and ensure that the soil is well-drained and the pot has a drainage hole. Peperomias are considered non-toxic and are ideal for households with children or animals. We have below outlined for you 15 popular Peperomia that you can grow successfully.
15 Different Peperomia Varieties for Home
Popular Peperomia varieties are Parallel Peperomia, Red Log Peperomia, Peperomia orba, Peperomia clusiifolia. Peperomia caperata, Peperomia argyreia, Peperomia obtusifolia, Peperomia prostrata, Peperomia scandens 'Variegata', Peperomia rotundifolia, Peperomia graveolens among others.
1. Parallel Peperomia
Botanical name: Peperomia puteolata
Synonym: Peperomia tetragona
Common name: Parallel Peperomia
Origin: South America
Size: 1-1.5 feet long stems
Light: Medium to bright indirect light
Water: Allow the top 2 inches of soil to dry
Temperature: 15-260C
Humidity: 55-65%
Soil: Blend of 1 part of potting mix and 1 part perlite
Parallel Peperomia is among the popular trailing Peperomia varieties which produces cascading stems with attractive patterns similar to the stripes found on watermelon rinds. The leaves are oval-shaped, patterned in dark green and white and grow in whorls around the plant stems. The stems are a deep maroon or reddish color. Learn how to grow and care for Peperomia puteolata.
2. Red Log Plant
Botanical name: Peperomia verticillata
Common names: Red Log Plant, Whorled Peperomia, Belly Button
Origin: Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and Bolivia
Size: 12 inches
Light: Bright indirect light
Water: Allow the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry
Temperature: 15-260C
Humidity: 55-55%
Soil: Cactus and succulents mix
Red Log Plant is a compact, evergreen, succulent Peperomia, featuring fleshy, dark-green, cupped leaves with red wine-colored undersides. The stems start upright but eventually spilling over due to weight of the leaves and begin to trail or creep on the soil surface. Learn how to grow and care for Peperomia verticillata.
3. Peperomia Ginny
Botanical name: Peperomia clusiifolia
Common names: Peperomia Ginny, Peperomia Jelly, Peperomia Red-edge, Peperomia Tricolor
Origin: West Indies and Mexico
Size: 12 inches
Light: Bright indirect light
Water: Allow the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry
Temperature: 15-260C
Humidity: 60-70%
Soil: Blend of 50% potting mix, 30% perlite and 20% orchid bark
Peperomia Ginny is a herbaceous plant featuring fleshy, oval-shaped leaves that are pointed at the tips. The leaves are often light green with darker green coloring in the center and red or pink edges. They feel like jelly to the touch and hence the common name, 'Peperomia Jelly'. Learn how to grow and care for Peperomia clusiifolia.
4. Teardrop Peperomia
Botanical name: Peperomia orba
Common names: Teardrop Peperomia, Teardrop Peperomia orba, Peperomia Teardrop Plant
Origin: Central and South America
Size: 6 inches
Light: Bright indirect light
Water: Allow the top 2 inches of soil to dry
Temperature: 15-260C
Humidity: 60-75%
Soil: Cactus and succulents mix
Teardrop Peperomia is a semi-succulent, slow-growing, compact plant which bears delicate, fleshy, oval-shaped, dark-green leaves and hence the name teardrops. On maturity, a white line appears down the center of the waxy leaves. The stems are fleshy, red and grow by trailing stems which makes this plant perfect for a hanging basket. Learn how to grow and care for Peperomia orba.
5. Variegated Cupid Peperomia
Botanical name: Peperomia scandens 'Variegata'
Synonym: Peperomia nitida 'Variegata'
Common names: Variegated Cupid Peperomia, False Philodendron
Origin: South and Central America, Mexico
Size: 5 feet long stems
Light: Bright indirect light
Water: Water when the top 2 inches of soil dry
Temperature: 15-260C
Humidity: 55-65%
Soil: Blend of 2 parts of potting mix and 1 part perlite
Variegated Cupid Peperomia is a trailing Peperomia which bears fleshy, green, heart-shaped leaves with cream-colored, golden, yellow, or off-white markings. The stems are long, pink colored and semi-succulent. Learn how to grow and care for Peperomia scandens 'Variegata'.
6. Emerald Ripple Peperomia
Botanical name: Peperomia caperata
Common name: Emerald Ripple Peperomia
Origin: Brazil
Size: 1 feet
Light: Bright indirect light
Water: Water when the top 2 inches of soil feel dry
Temperature: 15-260C
Humidity: 60-70%
Soil: Blend of 2 parts potting mix and 1 part perlite
Emerald Ripple Peperomia is a low-maintenance, compact, perennial plant that is easy to grow as it adapts well to various growing conditions. It is a slow-growing Peperomia whose leaves are heart-shaped and deeply ridged and are usually green but may have a blush of red and dark-green veins. Based on its compact size and attractive foliage, is a great choice for an office desk, plant shelf, window sill and other limited spaces.
7. Watermelon Peperomia
Botanical name: Peperomia argyreia
Common names: Watermelon Peperomia, Watermelon Begonia
Origin: northern South America
Size: 12 inches
Light: Bright indirect light
Water: Allow the top 2 inches of soil to dry
Temperature: 18-250C
Humidity: 50-60%
Soil: Cactus and succulents mix
Watermelon Peperomia is a compact, upright, bushy plant, featuring slightly-fleshy, oval-shaped, green leaves which are strikingly marked with curved, silver stripes which resemble the skin of a watermelon. The stems are red-colored and the flowers are insignificant, rat-tail, flower-heads made up of green flowers on an upright spike. The spectacular foliage place Watermelon Peperomia among popular plants for the home as it is a magnificent sight in any space.
8. Pepper Face Plant
Botanical name: Peperomia obtusifolia
Common names: Pepper Face Plant, Baby Rubber Plant or American Rubber Plant
Origin: Florida, Mexico and the Caribbean
Size: 10-12 inches
Light: Bright indirect light
Water: Allow the top 2 inches of soil to dry
Temperature: 18-250C
Humidity: 55-60%
Soil: Blend of 1 part peat moss, 1 part perlite and 1 part potting mix
Pepper Face Plant is a compact, evergreen, perennial, upright-growing Peperomia with cupped leathery leaves and resembles a miniature rubber plant and hence the common name, 'Baby Rubber Plant'. It has numerous cultivars including variegated ones. Baby Rubber Plant is among popular tropical foliage plants that will thrive even when the growing conditions are less than perfect. It does not require too frequent watering but needs bright light away from direct sunshine..
9. String of Turtles Plant
Botanical name: Peperomia prostrata
Common names: String of Turtles Plant, Magic Marmer
Origin: Brazil
Size: 1-2 feet long stems
Light: Bright light with 4-6 hours of sunlight
Water: Water when the top 2-3 inches of soil dry
Temperature: 18-250C
Humidity: 50-55%
Soil: Cactus and succulents mix
String of Turtles Plant is a compact, evergreen, perennial plant bearing succulent, heart-shaped leaves with beautiful patterns of white veins which vary in color from maroon to dark-blue to purple in young plants and become silvery-white as the plant matures. The veining on the leaves gives them the look of tiny turtles hence the common name, 'String of Turtles' placing it among popular string of plants ideal for a hanging basket, pedestal, tabletop or shelf.
10. Trailing Jade Plant
Botanical name: Peperomia rotundifolia
Common names: Trailing Jade Plant, Creeping Peperomia Plant, Jade Necklace, Creeping Buttons, Round-leaf Peperomia
Origin: South America
Size: 1-2 feet long stems
Light: Bright indirect light
Water: Water when the top 2-3 inches of soil dry
Temperature: 15-260C
Humidity: 50-55%
Soil: Cactus and succulents mix
Trailing Jade Plant features hanging shoots and very small, thick and fleshy, succulent, button-like leaves that may entwine and weave in and out of each other. The leaves have a rounded appearance and are often used to propagate new plants. The stem consists of several small green leaves growing all along the stem on either side placing it among well-liked plants for hanging baskets where it can display the spectacular stems.
11. Ruby Glow Peperomia
Botanical name: Peperomia graveolens
Common names: Ruby Glow Peperomia Plant, Ruby Peperomia
Origin: Ecuador
Size: 6-12 inches
Light: Bright indirect light
Water: Water when the top 2-3 inches of soil dry
Temperature: 15-250C
Humidity: 50-55%
Soil: Cactus and succulents mix
Peperomia graveolens is an easy-care Peperomia and bears gleaming-red stems in wine-red color and succulent leaves with a wine-red shade with a transparent v-shaped ‘window’ which allows for photosynthesis to occur. The flowers are insignifant and have a faint unpleasant odor which gives this plant the species name, 'graveolens', which means 'bad smelling'.
12. Coin-leaf Peperomia
Botanical name: Peperomia polybotrya
Common names: Coin-leaf Peperomia, Raindrop Peperomia
Origin: Peru and Colombia
Size: 12 inches
Light: Bright indirect light
Water: Allow the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry
Temperature: 15-260C
Humidity: 50-55%
Soil: Cactus and succulents mix
Coin-leaf Peperomia Plant is a compact, succulent plant with glossy, dark-green, heart-shaped leaves with pale green undersides. It resembles Pilea peperomioides (Chinese Money Plant) though the shape or leaves is quite different. The leaves in the former are more pointed and heart-shaped while in the latter they are rounded.
13. Wax Privet Peperomia
Botanical name: Peperomia glabella
Common names: Wax Privet Peperomia, Cypress Peperomia
Origin: West Indies, South America
Size: 6-12 inches
Light: Medium to bright indirect light
Water: Allow the top 2 inches of soil to dry
Temperature: 15-260C
Humidity: 60-70%
Soil: Blend of 2 parts potting mix and 1 part perlite
Wax Privet Peperomia is a small, hardy, fast-growing Peperomia variety with beautiful, oval leaves and red stems, the foliage is fleshy and often has variegations. The leaves can be a darker or a lighter green, depending on the amount of light the plant receives. Likewise, the petioles and stems vary from pink to red depending on the amount of light. The flowers are small and insignificant.
14. Beetle Peperomia
Botanical name: Peperomia angulata
Synonym: Peperomia quadrangularis
Common names: Beetle Peperomia, Beetle Raditor Plant
Origin: Central and South America
Size: 12 inches
Light: Medium to bright indirect light
Water: Allow the top 2 inches of soil to dry
Temperature: 15-260C
Humidity: 60-70%
Soil: Blend of 1 part peat moss, 1 part perlite and 1 part potting mix
Beetle Peperomia is among the trailing Peperomia varieties and features fragile, reddish stems with a trailing or hanging habit. The leaves are fleshy, oval-shaped, glossy, dark-green with light green lines and look like small Beetles, hence, the common name, 'Beetle Peperomia'.
15. Pearly Peperomia
Botanical name: Peperomia columella
Common names: Pearly Peperomia, Columnar Peperomia
Origin: western South America
Size: 12-18 inches
Light: Bright indirect light
Water: Allow the top 2-3 inches of soil to dry
Temperature: 15-260C
Humidity: 50-55%
Soil: Cactus and succulents mix
Pearly Peperomia is a succulent plant which bears fleshy, upright stems from which arise tightly-packed, alternately-arranged, horseshoe-shaped, bright-green, succulent leaves. The leaves have a transparent window at leaf apex through which light gets to the photosynthetic tissue. These transparent windows are water storage structures which come in handy in drought conditions placing it among plants with low water needs perfect for drought conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How many Peperomia Varieties are there?
There are over 1,000 species of Peperomia, with many cultivated varieties grown as houseplants.
2. Are Peperomia Plants easy to care for?
Yes, Peperomia Plants are low-maintenance and ideal for beginners. They require minimal watering and adapt well to indoor environments.
3. How long do Peperomia Plants live?
With proper care, Peperomia Plants can live several years and remain compact and healthy.
4. What is the most popular Peperomia variety?
Peperomia obtusifolia and Watermelon Peperomia are among the most popular due to their attractive foliage and easy care.
5. Are Peperomia Plants toxic to pets?
No, Peperomia Plants are non-toxic to cats and dogs, making them pet-safe houseplants.
6. Do Peperomia Plants like sunlight?
Peperomia Plants prefer bright indirect light. Too much direct sunlight can scorch the leaves.
7. Can Peperomia grow in low light?
Yes, many Peperomia Varieties tolerate low light, although growth may slow and colors may fade slightly.
8. How often should I water Peperomia Plants?
Water when the top few inches of soil feel dry but do not allow the soil to dry out completely.
