Aroids and other genera in the Collection
Take the Tour Now?
Orchids
The
Exotic Rainforest
Plants in
the Exotic Rainforest Collection
or possibly
Peperomia griseoargentea Yunck.
Peperomia caperata
Yunck.
Peperomia griseoargentea
Yunck.
Ivy-Leaf Peperomia,
Emerald Ripple Pepper, 'Nigra', Piperaceae
I recently was doing some research about Peperomia on a "high brow" website. If you don't know what I mean, the site basically does not consider plants worth growing unless they are expensive. This one is not expensive. You can find it commonly at "dime store" nurseries for about $3.
It may not be one of the most beautiful of all the Peperomia species but the fact remains, it is a very interesting and an unusually attractive plant that is easy to grow. Found in Central America in the country of Honduras and surrounding jungle habitat, and possibly Brazil, this little crinkled plant with 2 inch leaves loves shade and often grows as a ground cover. However, we have discovered it also will grab hold of a log or stump as in the photo and climb and trail creating an attractive display. The instruction tag that came with the four I bought said not to over water. I find that interesting since Honduras is a rain forest country that receives lots of rain! I've been there and I know for a fact. It gets wet down there! However the plant does do better in evenly moist soil that is not kept too soggy. The plant is not an aroid but does produces spathe appearing "flowers" that are tiny and unremarkable but grow on brilliant maroon stalks. The spike which resembles the spadix of an aroid is approximately 3 inches (see inset photo).
Peperomia is a member of the pepper family and thus gets its common name as a source of both black and white pepper. We have varieties of near identical plants that have almost deep black leaves growing
alongside a similar plant with lighter blue green leaves. These are obviously different species and we have been unable to verify which is which, although I believe the darker version to be Peperomia griseoargentea. We recently saw the darker version identified as P. griseoargentea on display at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Many websites identify Peperomia griseoargentea as the lighter colored version. We treat it like any other rainforest plant and give it a good soaking almost daily during the summer and 3 or more times a week during the winter however the soil in which they are planted is porous and well draining. If you are growing this as a houseplant be careful about over watering.