Coin Leaf Peperomia

Coin Leaf Peperomia (Peperomia polybotrya) is the desk plant that keeps looking well cared for whether or not you remember it. Thick, glossy, raindrop shaped leaves sit on upright stalks in a tidy mound about 30cm tall and 30cm across, and they store enough water to ride out a forgotten fortnight. It is also non toxic to cats and dogs.

Why you'll love it

• It stores its own water. The succulent leaves hold moisture, so this is a plant that suffers far more from attention than from neglect.
• Safe around pets. Peperomia are not toxic to cats or dogs, which makes it an easy choice for a home where plants sit at floor level.
• Genuinely small. At 30cm each way it fits a desk, a shelf or a bathroom windowsill without needing to be moved on later.
• Foliage that carries itself. The flowers are insignificant, so the deep green leaves and neat shape do the work all year.

Where it works best

Indoors anywhere in the country. Desks, shelves, bedside tables and bathroom benches all suit it. Inside, your climate stops mattering, which counts for a plant this frost tender.

Pots and containers. A 150mm to 200mm pot with a drainage hole is all it will ever need, and it is happier a little snug than swimming in a large pot.

Balconies and courtyards. In tropical and subtropical gardens it can live outside in bright shade, out of rain that would keep the mix wet.

Growing Coin Leaf Peperomia in Australia

Position and climate. Bright indirect light gives the best leaf colour and the tightest habit. Direct sun scorches the leaves. It is frost tender, so outside the tropics and subtropics it is an indoor plant year round.

Soil. A free draining indoor mix opened up with perlite, or a cactus and succulent mix. The roots are fine and rot easily in a heavy mix.

Water and feed. Soak it, empty the saucer, then let the mix dry most of the way through before the next drink. In practice that is every two to three weeks in summer and monthly in winter. Feed at half strength every six weeks through the warm months.

Grooming. Pinch the growing tips in spring to keep it compact, and cut any stretched or damaged stalks back to the base. Repot every two to three years.

What to expect when it arrives

This peperomia is sold as tube stock, so it arrives as a young, well rooted plant of a few stalks rather than a full mound. Pot it up into a 150mm pot on arrival and it will look established within a season.

Thick leaves travel well and generally arrive in good order, though a bruised leaf can be removed at the base. Leave it somewhere bright and indirect for a week before the first water. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Indoor plant tips for beginners
• Browse the wider indoor plant range
• Compare other pet friendly indoor plants

Common questions

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

Yes. Peperomia are not toxic to cats or dogs, so this is a sound pick for a home with pets. Any animal can still upset itself on a mouthful of foliage, so discourage the habit.

Why are the leaves going soft and yellow?

Almost always too much water. Let the mix dry most of the way through between drinks, check that the pot drains freely, and never leave it standing in a full saucer.

Why are the stalks getting long and floppy?

Not enough light. Move it closer to a window with bright indirect light, then pinch the tips in spring to bring it back into shape.

Does it need high humidity?

No. It tolerates humidity well but does not require it, and normal indoor air suits it. That is one of the reasons it is easier than a calathea or a fern.