Are you looking for something unique to liven up your living space? Consider Peperomia plants! This genus of tropical plants is surprisingly diverse, ranging from creeping groundcovers to upright shrubs. With over 1000 types of Peperomia, there’s something for every green thumb.
Here’s a round-up of 8 of the best Peperomia plant types to bring variety and color into your home!
What Are Peperomia Plants?
Native to tropical and subtropical regions of the world, Peperomia plants are known for their gorgeous foliage. Depending on the species, they can be evergreen or deciduous and come in a wide array of vibrant colors.
These low-maintenance houseplants are easy to care for and require minimal pruning.
Peperomia plants are not succulents. However, they can retain water in their leaves and stems, making them drought-tolerant.
There is a significant variation between the different Peperomia plants, from their shape and size to the color of their foliage. The leaves range from oblong to heart-shaped and come in green, brown, red, and white shades.
These plants are often my preferred choice for many people because of their adaptability. They can tolerate both low and bright light and indirect sunlight and even thrive outdoors in humid climates.
Look at 8 of the best Peperomia plant types for your home or garden!
8 of the most popular Types of Peperomia Plants:
Peperomia Argyreia
- Family: Piperaceae
- Light requirements: No direct sunlight. A sheltered place with bright indirect light.
- Temperature: 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Water requirements: If the top inch of soil has dried.
- Size: grow up to 12 inches.
- Soil requirements: a mixture of equal parts of perlite and peat moss.
This peperomia type is the most famous and tops the chart of popularity due to its attraction. The plant has glossy green leaves with stunning silver veins and red stems at the center.
Due to this combination, the plant is commonly named Watermelon peperomia for resembling the fruit.
It stands out among other types because it is the most common Peperomia type, and you won’t have difficulty finding it online or in stores. While it may be challenging for the newcomers to keep, it is easy, too, due to its low maintenance requirements.
Peperomia Rotundifolia
- Family: Piperaceae
- Light requirements: bright light without direct sunlight
- Temperature: 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit
- Water requirements: when the soil has almost dried out
- Size: around 12 inches long
- Soil requirements: two parts of peat mixed with one part of sand or perlite
The plant is bushy due to the fleshy, small, and round leaves attached to lengthy and trailing stems. This appearance is also due to the long limbs intertwining while they grow.
Each stem consists of numerous small green leaves growing along both sides of the limbs.
The plant type is hyped for its ability to provide indoor color all year round. The plant has succulent nature and therefore overwatering it is not recommended.
Not only does this plant look great when added to any space in your home or office, but it is also relatively easy to take care of. This makes it suitable to be picked by new plant lovers too.
Peperomia Obtusifolia
- Family: Piperaceae
- Light requirements: medium to bright indirect light
- Temperature: 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit
- Water requirements: wait for the top inch or two of soil to dry
- Size: 4 to 6 inches tall and 6 to 12 inches wide
- Soil requirements: well-draining and lose potting mix
This plant is popularly known as the “Baby Rubber Plant” because of its glossy, plump foliage that looks like rubber and offers a unique texture to any room. It is an evergreen perennial with deep green, oval-shaped leaves on top and pointed bottoms.
The Baby Rubber Plant can grow in a wide range of temperatures, but keeping them in a warm and humid environment is preferable.
It requires medium light, so try to place it near a window or area with indirect sunlight. Water this plant only when the top inch of the potting soil has dried out; overwatering can cause root rot, which can be fatal to the plant.
Under the right conditions, this plant grows reasonably quickly, around three to four feet yearly. This baby rubber plant also grows spikes of small white flowers whose blooms are relatively insignificant due to their small size.
It is suitable to be kept even for newbies because it requires very little maintenance, and you only need to water it moderately during summers and reduce the frequency in winter.
Peperomia Polybotrya
- Family: Piperaceae
- Light requirements: place it near a window with bright light
- Temperature: 65 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit
- Water requirements: let the soil dry between watering sessions
- Size: 8 to 12 inches
- Soil requirements: well-draining potting mix with equal parts of peat moss and perlite.
It is a relatively compact, easy-to-care home plant with heart-shaped and succulent foliage. Its botanical name has an interesting meaning: Peperomia means resembling pepper, and polybotrya means many. Some of its common words include peperomia raindrop, coin plant, and Chinese money plant.
The leaves of this peperomia plant type are thick and shiny and come with a dark green sheen and a touch of pale green underneath.
The plant also produces attractive kinds of flowers that are almost similar to green-tipped mouse tails. The flowers grow in clusters starting from the top of the stems, creating a sweet fragrance that most people enjoy.
Peperomia Orba
- Family: Piperaceae
- Light requirements: prefers indirect sunlight but not intense
- Temperature: 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit
- Water requirements: need watering once a week in the summertime
- Size: 4 to 6 inches in height and 6 to 12 inches in width
- Soil requirements: light, chunky and well-drained soil. Peat moss mixed with coarse sand.
Instead of blooms, this plant is famous for having attractive round and waxy leaves. Also known as “pixie cup,” “pixie peperomia, or teardrop,” this type of peperomia is small in size and can be kept indoors and outdoors, although they prefer to remain indoors.
This plant grows very slowly, with each mature plant reaching up to 4-6 inches in height and 6-12 inches in width.
What makes it one of our favorites is the fact that it is a very low-maintenance plant and doesn’t require much attention or effort from its owner.
This plant is suitable to be kept near an east-facing window where the sunlight is not too strong, or you can also keep them in a fluorescent environment to provide them with constant light.
Peperomia Caperata
- Family: Piperaceae
- Light requirements: low to bright indirect light
- Temperature: 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit
- Water requirements: only water when half or one inch of soil has dried
- Size: 8 inches tall
- Soil requirements: light peat moss mix containing sand or perlite.
This adorable plant offers a lovely green touch if you want to decorate a place in your home or office. The plant has attractive heart-shaped foliage and is relatively compact.
It is a low-maintenance plant suitable for beginners, so you don’t need to worry about taking extra care of it.
The green leaves of peperomia caperata are so dark they almost appear purple. The leaves are thick and heavy, which makes them look waxy. The plant produces delicate white flowers in clusters of green calyces, making it aesthetically pleasing for any space.
Its small and compact design makes it suitable for your rooms or home garden to be kept on a desktop or shelves.
You can also plant it in hanging baskets or small pots to enjoy the aesthetics that it has to offer. It is quite an easy-to-grow houseplant because it requires medium to low relative humidity and can easily tolerate low light for months.
Hope Peperomia
- Family: Piperaceae
- Light Requirements: bright and indirect lighting conditions
- Temperature: 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit
- Water requirements: every seven to ten days
- Size: 8 to 12 inches high
- Soil requirements: peat moss potting mixed with coarse sand or perlite.
One of the most delicate and ideal houseplants you can get your hands on, the peperomia hope plant. Thanks to its eye-catching leaves and its tolerance for various conditions.
It is a suitable option for beginners since it requires low maintenance and little care and can easily tolerate some neglect.
The compact size of this plant makes it ideal to be kept on desktops and shelves; therefore, it can be a great decorative piece for offices too. Its bloom time is around a whole year, and they can quickly grow in a cool environment too.
For better-growing results, you need to keep them away from direct sunlight since its bright light can wash out their attractive leaves color.
Peperomia tetraphylla
- Family: Piperaceae
- Light requirements: medium to bright indirect light
- Temperature: 65 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit
- Water requirements: once a week in the summertime
- Size: 4 to 6 inches in height and 6 to 12 inches in width
- Soil requirements: light, well-drained soil mix.
If you are searching for a unique-looking houseplant, then the peperomia tetraphylla is the one you should go for. This plant has interesting and attractive foliage that can quickly grab your attention in any room it is placed in. The leaves of this plant have four lobes, giving it its name, tetraphylla.
It is a low-maintenance plant that suits beginners and experienced homeowners alike. It does not require much water or sunlight and prefers to be kept in a humid environment with temperatures around 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit.
It also grows better in light, chunky, and well-drained soil mix, so ensure you provide suitable soil for optimal growth.
This peperomia plant can be easily grown indoors and makes a beautiful addition to any home or office. It is also a great option to be kept in hanging baskets so everyone can appreciate its unique foliage pattern.
Final thoughts
Overall, these types of Peperomia plants are an excellent option for your home or office and can provide you with a unique decorative piece in any room. With minimal care and some patience, they can turn into an impressive addition to your interior decor!
So if you are looking for easy, low-maintenance houseplants that offer desirable features, these Peperomia plants can be the perfect fit. Give them a try and enjoy their beauty in no time!