Little fantasy pepper

Botanical Name: Peperomia caperata 

Origin: Brazil

Height: 8 in (20 cm)

Light: Low to bright light. Protect this plant from direct sunlight. Light from an east- or north-facing window works best. Peperomia caperata thrives under indoor grow lights, making it a good choice for an office plant.

Water: Keep soil barely moist. Allow the top inch of soil to dry between waterings. Water less in winter, allowing the top half of the soil to dry out before watering again.

A member of the Piperaceae family, this compact plant has short stems covered by heart-shaped, deeply ridged leaves. The leaves are green, sometimes with a blush of red, and dark green veins. If your P. caperata doesn’t look like this one, there’s good reason. Newer cultivars give this popular houseplant a whole new look. Some of the varieties are listed below.

In summer through early fall, you may see slender flower spikes. They rise tall above the mound of foliage, growing from the base of the plant with reddish-purple stems. Whether you like the “flowers” or not…they are one of the hallmarks of Peperomia caperata.