Plant Library
Types of Peperomia: 11 Varieties Identified
A guide to types of Peperomia — baby rubber plant, watermelon, ripple, string of turtles, raindrop and Hope — with ID tips. ASPCA lists Peperomia as non-toxic.
Types of Peperomia: 11 Varieties Identified
Peperomia is one of the largest genera in the pepper family (Piperaceae), with well over a thousand species and a steady stream of cultivars on the houseplant market. For indoor growers, the appeal is consistent: most stay small, store water in thick semi-succulent leaves, and shrug off the average living-room conditions that defeat fussier tropicals. The variety in leaf shape, texture and colour — from glossy ovals to rippled hearts to tiny turtle-shell beads — is what turns a single windowsill into a collection.
This guide identifies 11 widely sold Peperomia, each with a quick visual tell and a light-plus-water signal so you can recognise what you are buying and keep it alive. Just as usefully for pet households: the ASPCA lists Peperomia species as non-toxic to cats and dogs, so the whole genus is a safe pick where a curious paw might reach. Care advice below uses both US and UK conventions.
Match a peperomia to your space: Snap your room in Growli — we'll measure the light level and tell you which peperomia variety will hold its look in your conditions.
Related: Peperomia care guide · types of pothos · pet-safe houseplants
The 11 most common types of peperomia
1. Baby rubber plant — Peperomia obtusifolia
Upright, bushy plant to roughly 12-18 in (30-45 cm) with thick, glossy, deep-green oval leaves on sturdy fleshy stems. The leaves are rounded and blunt-tipped, hence 'obtusifolia'.
Care signal: Bright indirect light; let the top 2-5 cm of mix dry, then water thoroughly.
2. Variegated baby rubber plant — Peperomia obtusifolia 'Variegata'
Same thick upright form as the species but with creamy white, yellow and green marbling across each leaf. Brighter light keeps the variegation crisp.
Care signal: Bright indirect light to hold variegation; water when the top few cm are dry.
3. Watermelon peperomia — Peperomia argyreia
Rosette of rounded, slightly teardrop leaves striped silver and dark green like a watermelon rind, carried on contrasting reddish leaf stalks. Compact, mounding habit.
Care signal: Bright indirect light; water when the top 2-3 cm of soil dries out.
4. Emerald Ripple peperomia — Peperomia caperata 'Emerald Ripple'
Low rosette of small, deeply corrugated heart-shaped leaves in rich green, with a quilted, rippled surface. Thin flower spikes rise on slender stalks above the foliage.
Care signal: Bright indirect to dappled light; water when the top of the mix feels dry.
5. Peperomia 'Frost' — Peperomia caperata 'Frost'
A caperata cultivar with the same rippled, heart-shaped leaves but a silvery, frosted sheen over a dark green base, so it looks dusted with frost.
Care signal: Bright indirect light (no direct sun); water when the top inch (2.5 cm) is dry.
6. String of turtles — Peperomia prostrata
Delicate trailer with tiny round leaves under 1 cm across, marbled with a darker green tortoise-shell pattern. Markings are sharpest on young leaves and mute with age.
Care signal: Bright indirect light; keep lightly moist but never wet, watering when the surface dries.
7. Cupid peperomia — Peperomia scandens 'Variegata'
Trailing or climbing stems set with glossy heart-shaped leaves, light green centred with creamy yellow margins. Good for hanging baskets.
Care signal: Bright indirect light brings out variegation; water when the top 2-3 cm dry.
8. Trailing jade — Peperomia rotundifolia
Fine, slender trailing stems densely lined with small coin-shaped leaves about 1-2 cm wide. Flatter and faster-growing than the look-alike 'Hope'.
Care signal: Bright indirect light; let it dry slightly between waterings to avoid rot.
9. Raindrop peperomia — Peperomia polybotrya
Upright plant with thick, glossy leaves shaped like a raindrop or coin, each ending in a pointed drip-tip — the tip is the easy way to tell it from a Chinese money plant (Pilea).
Care signal: Bright indirect light; water when the soil is roughly three-quarters dry.
10. Peperomia 'Hope' — Peperomia 'Hope'
Trailing hybrid (P. deppeana x P. quadrifolia) with small, thick, succulent-like round leaves arranged in whorls of three or four along the stems. Slow-growing.
Care signal: Bright indirect light; allow the mix to dry well, then water — overwatering kills it.
11. Happy bean peperomia — Peperomia ferreyrae
Distinctive succulent with long, narrow, bean-like lime-green leaves, each with a darker translucent 'window' groove running along the top edge.
Care signal: Bright indirect light; treat like a succulent — let it dry out fully, then water.
Are peperomia toxic to cats and dogs?
Good news for pet owners: the ASPCA lists Peperomia species as non-toxic to both dogs and cats, so the genus is a reliably pet-safe houseplant. Individual ASPCA listings confirm this across the common types — baby rubber plant (Peperomia obtusifolia), watermelon peperomia (P. argyreia), Emerald Ripple peperomia (P. caperata) and trailing peperomia (P. prostrata) are all recorded as non-toxic to dogs and cats. North Carolina State Extension additionally lists P. caperata as non-toxic to horses. Unlike pothos, philodendron or dieffenbachia — whose oral irritation comes from insoluble calcium-oxalate crystals — Peperomia carries no such ASPCA toxicity warning. It is still sensible to discourage chewing, since damaged leaves look unsightly and any plant material can cause mild stomach upset if a pet eats a large amount, but no variety in this guide is flagged toxic by the ASPCA.
Frequently asked questions
Are Peperomia toxic to cats and dogs?
No. The ASPCA lists Peperomia species as non-toxic to both cats and dogs, including baby rubber plant (Peperomia obtusifolia), watermelon peperomia (P. argyreia), Emerald Ripple peperomia (P. caperata) and trailing peperomia (P. prostrata). It is still best to discourage pets from chewing, because a large amount of any plant material can cause mild stomach upset and leaf damage looks unsightly, but no variety in this guide is flagged toxic by the ASPCA.
Which Peperomia is the easiest to grow?
Baby rubber plant (Peperomia obtusifolia) and its variegated form are among the easiest. They have thick, water-storing leaves, tolerate average household light and humidity, and forgive occasional neglect. The main thing that kills Peperomia is overwatering, so let the top few centimetres of mix dry out before watering and keep them in a small pot with good drainage.
What is the rarest or most sought-after Peperomia?
Among collectors, velvety species such as Peperomia eburnea, and uncommon forms often sold as Peperomia metallica or its tricolour 'Colombiana', are harder to find and more prized than mass-market types. Many of these have not been formally described and are not always consistently available, so names on shop labels can be inconsistent. Common varieties like raindrop (P. polybotrya) and trailing jade (P. rotundifolia) are inexpensive and easy to source.
How do I tell a raindrop peperomia from a Chinese money plant?
Raindrop peperomia (Peperomia polybotrya) has thick, glossy leaves that end in a pointed drip-tip, like a raindrop. The Chinese money plant (Pilea peperomioides) has round, coin-shaped leaves with the stem attached in the centre of the leaf and no pointed tip. If the leaf comes to a point at its end, it is the raindrop peperomia.
How often should I water a Peperomia?
There is no fixed schedule. Because the leaves store water, Peperomia are easy to overwater. Wait until the top 2-5 cm (about an inch or two) of the potting mix has dried, then water thoroughly and let the excess drain away. Succulent-leaved types such as 'Hope' and happy bean (P. ferreyrae) like to dry out more fully between waterings. Reduce watering in winter when growth slows.
Do Peperomia need direct sunlight?
No. Most Peperomia prefer bright, indirect light and can scorch in strong direct sun, especially through a hot south-facing window. An east or north-facing window, or a spot shielded by a sheer curtain, suits them well. Variegated types such as 'Variegata' and cupid peperomia keep their patterns better in brighter light, while plain green caperata types tolerate lower light for a while.
Is string of turtles a true Peperomia?
Yes. String of turtles is Peperomia prostrata, a small trailing semi-succulent in the same genus as the upright types. It is sometimes called trailing peperomia, and the ASPCA lists it as non-toxic to cats and dogs. Its young leaves carry the sharpest tortoise-shell markings, which fade as the leaves mature.