Piperaceae

Thick, glossy, oval leaves on upright stems. One of the most widely available and most forgiving Peperomia. Tolerates low light and irregular watering better than most houseplants. The glossy, rounded leaves have a satisfying solidity — the plant looks like it should be more difficult than it is. One of the best choices for offices, shelves, and lower-light positions where other houseplants would struggle. Produces small, white, mouse-tail-like flower spikes occasionally.

Cream and green variegated form of obtusifolia. The cream markings are distributed irregularly across the glossy oval leaves, from pale edging to large cream sectors. Requires slightly more light than plain green obtusifolia to maintain the cream markings. In low light the variegation dims and the plant reverts toward green. Otherwise identical care.

Deeply textured, corrugated dark green leaves with a pronounced ridged surface that catches light and creates depth. Compact rosette form. One of the most tactilely interesting Peperomia. The corrugated surface is genuinely distinctive. Produces small, white, mouse-tail flower spikes on thin stems. More tolerant of lower light than many Peperomia. Standard Peperomia care applies.

Similar corrugated texture to standard caperata but with a vivid scarlet-red underside and dark, almost black-green upper surface. The red undersides are visible when the compact leaves curl or at the leaf margins, giving the plant a warm glow. One of the most colorful standard-care Peperomia. Same care as caperata.

Silver and dark green stripes on round, slightly pointed leaves that closely resemble the rind pattern of a watermelon. Compact rosette. One of the most recognizable and widely sought Peperomia patterns. The resemblance to the fruit is genuine and immediate. Compact, dense growth. Standard Peperomia care applies; allow medium indirect light for the best stripe definition.

Large, round to teardrop-shaped, glossy dark green leaves on upright stems. More architectural than most Peperomia. The leaf size and glossy surface give it a presence that reads beyond the typical desk-plant scale of the genus. Occasionally confused with Pilea peperomioides due to the round leaf shape, but distinctly different in texture and color. Standard Peperomia care applies.

Dark green leaves with a distinctive metallic silver sheen on the upper surface and a reddish underside. The metallic quality of the leaf surface is the defining characteristic. It catches light differently from standard glossy surfaces. Compact upright form. Standard Peperomia care applies with medium indirect light to maintain the metallic coloration.

Green, cream, and pink variegated leaves with distinctive pink-red margins. One of the most colorful Peperomia cultivars. The pink edging is striking and unusual. Requires medium indirect light to maintain the pink margins; in lower light the margins fade to cream or green. Standard Peperomia care applies. One of the more popular Peperomia for those wanting color without a demanding plant.

Silver-green, heart-shaped leaves with subtle dark green striping radiating from the center. The silvery ground color with the overlying green veining creates a gentle, two-tone pattern. Compact rosette. A quieter, more understated variety than argyreia or jelly, but with a distinctive soft quality. Standard Peperomia care applies.

Narrow leaves with crisp parallel white stripes on a dark green ground, arranged in whorls on upright reddish stems. The striping pattern is graphic and precise, among the most linear and architectural of Peperomia leaf patterns. Upright growing habit. The contrast between the white stripes and the dark ground is excellent in medium indirect light. Standard Peperomia care applies.

Small, round, bright green leaves on thin, trailing stems. One of the most delicate-looking trailing Peperomia. The fine stems and miniature round leaves create an almost thread-like cascade. Well suited to hanging baskets and shelf edges where the trailing habit displays well. More succulent than it looks — the small round leaves store water effectively and the plant tolerates the drying between waterings that most Peperomia prefer.

Round, succulent-textured, stacked leaves on trailing stems. A hybrid between rotundifolia and deppeana. The leaves are plumper and more succulent in appearance than rotundifolia, making the plant more drought-tolerant. One of the most popular trailing Peperomia for desk and shelf use. The compact, succulent look works well in small spaces. Standard Peperomia care applies; the succulent texture means even less water than most.

Cream and green variegated, heart-shaped leaves on trailing stems. One of the most delicate-looking trailing Peperomia in the genus. The heart-shaped leaves on long, fine stems create an elegant draping effect. Medium indirect light is needed to maintain the cream variegation. Otherwise standard Peperomia care.

Small, round, succulent leaves arranged in whorls of four around thin trailing stems. The leaf arrangement is the distinguishing feature versus hope and rotundifolia which have opposite rather than whorled leaves. Very similar in care to hope. Good for hanging baskets and terrariums.

Similar to tetraphylla in growth habit — small, round succulent leaves on trailing stems. Sometimes confused with tetraphylla at retail and the care is identical. A fine trailing Peperomia for hanging displays and terrariums. Occasionally sold without a name label, grouped with related small trailing Peperomia species.

Thick, boat-shaped leaves that are pale green on top with vivid red-burgundy undersides and stems. The red undersides catch light and make the plant appear to glow from below. The common name is apt. More succulent than most Peperomia and consequently among the most drought-tolerant. Requires bright indirect light for the red undersides to be most vivid; in lower light the red fades to pale pink. Treat almost as a succulent with watering.

Densely white-hairy stems and leaves — the trichome covering gives the plant a soft, almost velvety texture and a silvery-white appearance. The hair covering is an adaptation for drought tolerance and acts as insulation, reducing water loss. More drought-tolerant than most Peperomia as a result. Upright habit. An unusual texture in the genus. The white-hairy effect is more reminiscent of a Ceropegia or a Kalanchoe tomentosa than a typical Peperomia.

Small, boat-shaped, very succulent leaves with a folded structure and a partially translucent window. One of the most succulent Peperomia — treat it almost like a cactus with watering, allowing long dry periods between. Requires the least water of the genus. Rarely seen outside specialist collections. More closely resembles a succulent from an Aizoaceae than a typical Peperomia. Bright indirect light is needed for compact, healthy growth.

One of the most botanically unusual Peperomia. The folded, boat-shaped leaves have a transparent window along the top fold, an adaptation for gathering interior light, similar to Haworthia truncata. The window allows light to penetrate the interior of the succulent leaf where photosynthesis occurs. Very succulent — treat as a near-cactus with watering. A striking and unusual plant for collectors interested in botanical curiosities.

Similar to dolabriformis with a more pronounced keel and slightly different window arrangement along the leaf fold. Less commonly available than dolabriformis and often only found through specialist succulent or Peperomia collectors. Care identical to dolabriformis, very succulent, infrequent watering, bright indirect light.

Tiny, velvety, dark green leaves arranged in dense whorls on compact upright stems. The small scale and humidity tolerance make it excellent for terrarium growing — the dense, textured growth has a moss-like quality at scale. One of the best Peperomia for enclosed growing conditions. Standard Peperomia care applies at its most conservative.

Very compact, tight rosette of small mid-green leaves. One of the smallest and most desk-friendly Peperomia available — the tight rosette form stays small and tidy indefinitely. Good for terrariums and grouped arrangements where a very small, neat plant is needed. Standard Peperomia care at its most minimal; the small size means very little water is needed.

Small, round, succulent leaves patterned with a marbled dark-and-light pattern that resembles a turtle's shell, trailing from thin, delicate stems. Native to the rainforest understory of Brazil and Ecuador, where it grows as a shallow-rooted epiphyte on mossy trunks and rocks in dappled light. Stays small and slow-growing, making it a favourite for terrariums and hanging displays alike. Direct sun fades the leaf patterning; too little light causes leggy, sparsely-leaved growth.