Variegated Baby Rubber Plant

Variegated Baby Rubber Plant (Peperomia obtusifolia 'Alba Variegata') is the indoor plant for a shelf, a desk or a bright bathroom sill. It settles at about 30cm tall and 30cm across and stays there, carrying thick, almost succulent leaves marbled in cream and deep green. It is also listed as non toxic to cats and dogs, which narrows the choice considerably in a house with a curious animal.

Why you'll love it

• Genuinely pet friendly. Peperomia are listed as non toxic to cats and dogs, so it can sit on a low shelf without worry.
• It stays small. Roughly 30cm each way at maturity, so it never outgrows the room.
• Variegation that holds. The cream margins stay bright in moderate indirect light rather than reverting to plain green.
• Thick leaves store water. The fleshy foliage forgives a missed week, which makes it a sound first plant.

Where it works best

Indoors, anywhere in the country. It is frost tender, so inside is where it belongs in every Australian climate. Bright rooms, filtered light near a window and humid bathrooms all suit it.

Pots, balconies and courtyards. A 150mm to 200mm pot with a drainage hole is the whole story, and three grouped at different heights fill a shelf. In tropical and subtropical gardens it can live outdoors year round in a sheltered, shaded spot. Further south it comes inside before winter.

Growing Variegated Baby Rubber Plant in Australia

Position and climate. Bright indirect light gives the strongest variegation. Direct midday sun through glass scorches the leaves, and deep shade fades the cream and stretches the stems. Outdoors it is limited to shaded positions in tropical and subtropical gardens, and it takes no frost at all.

Soil. A free draining indoor potting mix, opened up further with perlite or coarse bark. The fleshy roots rot in a mix that stays wet, so the pot must drain and the saucer must be emptied.

Water and feed. Let the top third of the mix dry before watering again: every seven to ten days in summer, every two to three weeks in winter. Half strength liquid fertiliser once a month through spring and summer is plenty.

Pruning. Pinch the growing tips to keep it bushy rather than sprawling, and remove the narrow greenish flower spikes if you would rather the foliage did the work.

What to expect when it arrives

It is grown in three sizes, all sold in multiples: 125mm and 140mm plants in packs of ten, and established 200mm plants in packs of six. The smaller pots hold young, compact plants and suit anyone filling several rooms. The 200mm plants drop straight into a decorative pot.

Fleshy leaves travel well, though a bruised leaf or two is normal and not a fault. Give it a week somewhere bright and indirect before the first water, then expect about a month of quiet before new leaves appear. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, and every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read how to keep your indoor plants alive.
• Browse the wider indoor plants range.
• Compare other pet friendly indoor plants.
• Choose a pot or planter that drains properly.

Common questions

Is it safe for cats and dogs?

Yes. Peperomia species are listed as non toxic to cats and dogs, which is why they appear on most pet safe plant lists. A pet that chews a mouthful may still get a mild upset stomach.

Why is it losing its cream markings?

Not enough light. Variegated foliage needs more of it than plain green foliage, because the cream sections carry no chlorophyll. Move it closer to a window, out of direct sun, and new growth comes through marked again.

How often should I water it?

Every seven to ten days in the warm months and every two to three weeks in winter, always waiting until the top third of the mix is dry. Yellowing lower leaves and soft stems mean too much water, not too little.