Peperomia obtusifolia
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- pep-eh-ROH-mee-ah ob-too-sih-FOH-lee-ah
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Pepper Face is a tropical evergreen herbaceous shrub that is erect and bushy and grows up to 1' tall. The glossy cupped, obovate leaves on branched, distinct stems and petioles that are usually tinged pink are key ID features. Leaf attachment is a sub-peltate. This plant is commonly used as an interior specimen or desktop plant. This plant tolerates low light for several months without stress. It is intolerant of wet soil, very dry soil, or very drafty sites. This plant prefers medium light, dry soil, and medium to low relative humidity. This plant has no serious pest or disease problems and is commonly grown as a houseplant.
Quick ID Hints:
- Leaves are obovate, cupped, glossy
- Stems are distinct and branched
- Petioles and stems are usually tinged pink and red
- Inflorescence is cream-colored spike
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Peperomia
- Species:
- obtusifolia
- Family:
- Piperaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Mexico and South America
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Houseplant
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are white-cream in color and minute. They are crowded on an erect spike (spadix). Flowers have 2 stamens and 0 perianths.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Green
- Variegated
- Leaf Feel:
- Glossy
- Waxy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Cuneate
- Obtuse
- Orbicular
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are alternate, simple, obovate, obtuse to emarginate, cuneate, entire, concave, coriaceous, waxy, glossy green, and sub-peltate. Petioles are short, less than an inch in size, and somewhat winged. They are often variegated.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Stems are branched, stoloniferous, and ascend up to 6".
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Houseplants
- Design Feature:
- Specimen
