With over 1,500 to 1,700 different species of peperomia spreading their roots throughout the tropics, you’ll be sure to find one that compliments your living space.
Owning a peperomia plant has seen high trends mainly due to the plant’s low maintenance levels as well as its compactness. Since they’re on the small side, you can fit them in little corners, on your work desk, or even in your bathroom.
Aside from that, the hard part may come from choosing which peperomia variety to own. Whether it’s a showy Argyreia or a spiky Ferreyrae variety, we’re sure you’ll enjoy their company. Having said that, stick around to learn more about peperomia varieties.
Why Own Peperomia?
Before getting into the long list of peperomia varieties, let’s address the upsides of owning one. Now, the two main reasons why people gravitate to this plant are its ease of care and diverse nature.
Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that not all peperomias have similar care requirements. Some may be more susceptible to overwatering than others such as the Epiphytic types. Others may prefer more sunlight since they naturally reside in high-elevation areas.
Apart from that, peperomias still maintain an easygoing flow when it comes to caring requirements. Here’s why
Adaptable
For starters, peperomia are hardy plants. They can survive in several lighting conditions ranging from partial shade to even artificial lighting.
Tolerant
In addition to this, peperomias are also forgiving in the temperature department. They can tolerate reduced humidity levels as well.
Versatile
Like most other plants, peperomias’ growing season is in summer and spring. Apart from that, you can place these compact plants almost anywhere with the right lighting conditions. You can even situate them in close proximity to children and pets since they’re non-toxic.
Top 13 Peperomia Varieties
From the hundreds of varieties available, one or two peperomia will likely captivate your interest. Each peperomia can vary in leaf variegation, shape, and overall coloration.
Additionally, the plant can be categorized into several groups such as two-toned and humidity-loving peperomias.
Subsequently, each group has different care requirements, so be sure to familiarize yourself with the plant’s type and you’ll be good to go. Now, without further ado, here are some of the peperomia varieties.
- Peperomia Hope
- Other Names: Acorn Peperomia and Four-leaved Peperomia
Starting our list is none other than the adorable little Peperomia hope. Upon first glance, you’ll notice the plant holds succulent fleshy leaves. The coin-shaped extensions hold a neutral green shade.
Native to the Central and South American region, the Four-Leaved Peperomia can grow about 8 inches wide and 12 inches tall. Now, as your perennial grows, you may notice some protruding brown and green spikes. These are the plant’s flowers blooming.
In terms of growth care, the Peperomia hope blooms during the summer and spring months. Meanwhile, the care requirements are straightforward where you’ll want to provide the plant with well-draining soil and indirect lighting conditions.
- Jade Necklace Peperomia
- Other Names: Peperomia rotundifolia, Trailing Jade, and Round Leaf Peperomia
Jade Necklace peperomia can either grow in two forms. You can leave the viny plant’s stems to trail down and create a drape-like effect, which is ideal if you want to hang the plant.
Alternatively, you can trim the plant and allow it to grow in a bushy-like texture around other houseplants. Appearance-wise, the Trailing Jade holds multiple small fuzzy-textured round leaves. Some cultivars may mistake this plant for the Peperomia hope, nevertheless, the Peperomia rotundifolia has smaller leaves.
In terms of size, the Jade Necklace can stretch around 8 inches tall and spread around 20 inches if left to grow. To maintain the Trailing Jade’s shiny leaf sheen, you’ll want to keep it in bright indirect light.
Additionally, since the plant exhibits succulent-like characteristics, make sure it doesn’t get overwatered. Plus, keep the plant in well-draining soil and make sure to repot if the plant is outgrowing its home.
- Piccolo Banda Peperomia
- Other Names: Peacock Plant and Peperomia Albovittata
The Piccolo Banda Peperomia is perhaps one of the most captivating variations in this list. The plant’s small heart-shaped leaves are adorned with well-defined dark green and red-tinged veins. Overall, the plant basically looks like it came out of a Tim Burton movie.
Meanwhile, the Albovittata’s stems are reddish in color and have a succulent-like feel as well. Plus, you’ll want to handle the extensions with care since they can snap easily.
In terms of care, the Piccolo Banda can survive best under bright indirect lighting conditions and average or warm temperatures ranging between 64 to 75 degrees F.
Nevertheless, the plant can withstand harsh temperatures going as low as 50 degrees F. In regard to humidity, the plant generally prefers high-humidity environments which you can mimic with the help of a humidifier or the pebble tray technique.
- Prayer Peperomia
- Other Names: Peperomia dolabriformis and Prayer Pepper
Originally cultivated in Peru, the Prayer Pepper is fitted with folded narrow leaves resembling green bean pods. The rich green-colored peperomia stands about three inches long and an inch thick.
Subsequently, the plant’s small size makes it a perfect addition to any nook or cranny around your house. Apart from that, the prayer plant enjoys basking in the sun and relatively warm temperatures. For this reason, we suggest keeping it around a couple of inches away from your windows.
The plant is self-sufficient when it comes to hydration. In turn, a weekly watering session should suffice. Plus, when planting the peperomia, you’ll want to use well-draining soil like cacti or succulent potting mix.
- Taco Peperomia
- Other Names: Peperomia axillaris, Taco Plant, and Taco Succulent
As the peperomia’s name suggests, the plant’s leaf shape is similar to, you guessed it, tacos. One thing’s for sure about these plants, they would make a cool gift to your Mexican foodie friend.
Apart from that, Taco peperomias are decorated with succulent-like bright green folded leaves. Grown in the mountainous regions of the Andes, the Peperomia axillaris is categorized under the peperomias residing in high-elevation regions.
In turn, they’re fond of bright sunny placements, but try to keep it in an indirect lighting space. Otherwise, their leaf coloration could fade away. Apart from that, the plant thrives best in temperatures ranging between 60 to 80 degrees F.
On top of that, you’ll want to keep the plant in a considerably humid-rich environment, or at least expose it to 40 to 50% humidity. As a slow grower, you can expect the Taco Succulent to reach around ten inches in height.
- Beetle Peperomia
- Other Names: Peperomia quadrangularis and Peperomia angulata
Beetle peperomia can make a beautiful addition to your living space with its creeping stems and variegated leaves. Speaking of which, the peperomia sports light-green striped oval-shaped leaves with a dark green and slightly red-tinted backdrop.
The plant’s long stems are reddish and purple-hued, plus they exhibit succulent-like characteristics. Aside from that, Beetle peperomias can reach around six to eight inches in height.
When caring for the plant, you’ll want to ensure a spot with indirect sunlight. The soil needs to be well-draining. In addition to this, keep an eye out for overwatering. You’ll mainly want to water the plant if the topsoil is drying out.
- Belly Button Peperomia
- Other Names: Peperomia verticillata, Double Duty, and Red Log
If you’re looking for a pop of color in your green collection, then you’ll want to consider the Belly Button peperomia. One of the best-selling features of this plant comes from its red wine-stained leaf underside.
The underside isn’t the only colorful part of the green beauty, the stems are also the same red shade. Speaking of stems, the Belly Button peperomia’s stems at first grow upright, but due to the hefty weight of its leaves, the stems end up spilling over.
If you touch the plant, you’ll feel a fuzzy texture emanating from the thin hairs growing from the cultivar’s round leaves. That being said, Peperomia verticillata are relatively on the small scale, only growing at about 12 inches or so.
For this reason, you can place them on a shelf, countertop, or study desk. To care for the plant, you’ll primarily need to expose it to indirect lighting conditions and keep it in a well-drained pot.
- String of Turtles
- Other Names: Peperomia prostrata and Trailing Peperomia
The plant’s name, String of Turtles, comes from its leaf shape and color. Subsequently, the leaves are round and variegated with light green veins and a slightly darker green background. This peperomia, like the Jade Necklace Peperomia, grows in a viny trailing pattern.
That being said, the plant’s shoots are reddish and thin. If you trim the plant regularly, then you’ll enjoy a bushier appearance. To make sure the plant remains healthy, try your best to keep it in a place with indirect light conditions.
Plus, avoid overwatering the plant, otherwise, the peperomia will likely wilt and be more susceptible to bacterial infections such as root rot.
- Baby Rubber Plant
- Other Names: Pepper Face and Peperomia obtusifolia
The Baby Rubber Plant is among the succulent-like peperomia cultivars due to its thick moisture-retaining leaves and upright sturdy stems. You can find sub-varieties within this plant such as the Peperomia obtusifolia Variegata and Bohemian Bravour.
The first is fitted with off-white colored leaves with specks of marbled green coloration. Meanwhile, the latter is a solid dark green color. In terms of shape, the Baby Rubber Plant’s leaves are usually rounded.
To care for the Pepper Face plant, you’ll want to expose it to bright indirect light conditions. Plus, be sure to water it at weekly or biweekly intervals depending on the dampness of the topsoil. Finally, its soil should be a well-draining mix that could be infused with perlite and vermiculite.
- Raindrop Peperomia
- Other Names: Peperomia polybotrya and coin-leaf peperomia
If you’re looking for simple-shaped leaves with solid colors, then the exotic Raindrop Peperomia might be your best bet. The variation’s leaves are slightly round and heart-shaped. Additionally, the dark-colored leaves give off a glossy shine.
Aside from that, the coin-leaf peperomia can grow around 12 to 5 inches in height. When looking after the plant, try to keep it in an indirect light as well as in warm temperatures. Anything below 60 degrees F could stunt the plant’s growth.
Having said that, we suggest placing your Raindrop Peperomia next to an Eastern-facing window. That way, it’ll receive an ample amount of morning sunshine.
- Pincushion Peperomia
- Other Names: Peperomia ferreyrae, Happy Beans Peperomia, and Green Beans Peperomia
Similar to the Prayer Peperomia, the Pincushion variety also holds a similar bean-pod-like shape. This is why it’s also commonly referred to as Happy Beans or Green Beans Peperomia. Nevertheless, you can try to distinguish both varieties from the Prayer Peperomia’s more canoe-like leaves.
On the other hand, the Pincushion Peperomia has more elongated and narrow leaves. Structurally, the plant grows into a small shrub form and barely exceeds a foot in length. Meanwhile, the cone-shaped green-yellow spikes growing out of the plant are its flowers blooming.
To maintain a healthy Pincushion Peperomia, you’ll want to ensure a humid-rich environment. In turn, you can use the pebble tray method where you place the pot on top of a tray filled with pebbles and water. The idea is that as the water evaporates upward, it’ll hydrate the peperomia’s leaves.
- Emerald Ripple Pepper
- Other Names: Peperomia caperata and Ivy Leaf Peperomia
The Emerald Ripper Pepper grows in several color variations. Some of these include its Luna Red variation which offers a dark red leaf color. These are ideal if you’re trying to set a gothic scene.
Meanwhile, the Pink Lady variation offers a more light-toned pinkish option for an extra color kick to your garden. You can also opt for a similar choice such as the Abricos variation that has pink-edged leaves. Overall, an Emerald Ripple Pepper’s leaves are crinkled in texture and heart-shaped.
Aside from that, the plant has a bushy growth pattern that can extend over eight inches in length. Like most other peperomias mentioned in the list, the Emerald Ripple Pepper flourishes in indirect light.
Plus, it only needs to be watered if the topsoil feels dry. In addition to this, average temperatures and humidity conditions will support this plant’s long and healthy life.
- Watermelon Peperomia
- Other Names: Peperomia Argyreia and Watermelon Begonia
From the plant’s name, you can probably guess what its leaf appearance will resemble. The distinct watermelon pattern has given this peperomia extended popularity in the houseplant community.
With silvery veins and a dark green background, the teardrop-shaped leaves have captivated a large crowd. The plant’s reddish stems support its glossy leaves. The good news about the Watermelon Begonia is that it’s relatively easy to spot online due to its notoriety.
When it comes to the care specifics, the Watermelon Peperomia thrives best in at least a daily five-hour indirect sun-basking session. Temperature-wise, the plant can grow healthily between 60 to 80 degrees F.
In summer, you can water the Watermelon plant every one to three weeks. Meanwhile, as the frosty weather hits, you can stretch out its watering intervals to every three to five weeks. Just be sure that the topsoil is dry before watering the plant.
FAQs
What is the most common peperomia?
The beetle peperomia, also referred to as the Angulata, is the most common peperomia sold as an indoor or garden plant.
Which peperomia is easiest to grow?
The easiest peperomia to grow is Peperomia obtusifolia. The plant is also commonly named the Baby Rubber Tree. You can easily grow this plant by watering it every one to two weeks and keeping it in bright indirect sunlight.
Why are peperomias called Radiator plants?
Peperomias are often referred to as Radiator plants due to their preference for warm air exposure. In turn, you can place these plants near a radiator for an ideal living environment. Subsequently, their drought tolerance will help them withstand excess dry air exposure.
Is peperomia a type of succulent?
No, peperomias are not a type of succulent. Despite exhibiting some succulent-like qualities such as fleshy leaves and stems, they’re still not categorized as succulents.
How do you keep peperomia bushy?
You can keep your peperomia bushy by maintaining regular indirect sun exposure. If it’s too leggy, then it’s likely not getting enough sunlight.
To Conclude
Peperomias make for an exotic addition to your home. As houseplants, peperomia varieties are relatively easy to care for. The most common care instructions involve weekly or biweekly waterings, bright indirect light conditions, and well-draining soil.
Consequently, its low-maintenance nature has allowed this houseplant to grow in popularity among several households. Fortunately, you get to choose from a myriad of varieties. If you’re looking to add a hanging moment in your indoor area, then you may consider a String of Turtles or Jade Necklace.
On the other hand, if you prioritize color and vibrancy, then the Belly Button peperomia is bound to turn a few heads. Overall, with the right care, your peperomia can bloom healthily no matter its shape, color, and size.