Red Edge Peperomia

Red Edge Peperomia (Peperomia clusiifolia 'Red Edge') is a small indoor plant grown entirely for its foliage: thick, glossy, paddle shaped leaves in deep green, edged in cream and flushed with red. It stays neat at about 30cm tall and 30cm across, which suits a desk, a shelf or a bathroom windowsill. It is also non toxic to cats and dogs.

Why you'll love it

• Colour without flowers. The cream and red leaf edges hold all year. The flower spikes are slim and easily missed, which is no loss.
• Pet friendly. Listed as non toxic to cats and dogs, which makes it a safer choice than many patterned indoor plants.
• It forgives a missed watering. Those succulent leaves store water, so the plant handles short dry spells far better than it handles a soggy pot.
• Low fuss. No staking, no spraying and no rush to repot. Pinch the tips now and then and it stays bushy.

Where it works best

Indoors, anywhere in the country. This is the main use. Inside, the climate outside your window stops mattering, which counts for a plant that will not take frost.

Pots, balconies and courtyards. A 130mm to 200mm pot with a drainage hole is plenty. Outdoors it needs a sheltered, frost free spot in tropical, subtropical or warm temperate gardens, in bright shade rather than direct sun.

Small gardens and shaded corners. In a warm climate it works as a low pocket planting under taller foliage, where the leaf markings read against plain green.

Growing Red Edge Peperomia in Australia

Position and climate. Bright indirect light gives the strongest leaf colour. Deep shade dulls the markings and hot sun through glass scorches them. Outdoors it is only realistic in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens, because it is frost tender and a cold wet winter will finish it.

Soil. A free draining indoor mix, opened up with perlite or coarse bark. Peperomias have fine roots that rot in dense, wet mix, so never let the pot stand in water.

Water and feed. Water thoroughly, empty the saucer, then let the top half of the mix dry before the next drink. Half strength liquid fertiliser monthly through spring and summer is all it asks.

Pruning. Pinch the growing tips to keep it bushy rather than sprawling, and remove any leaf that yellows at the base. Repot every two years at most, into a pot one size larger.

What to expect when it arrives

It is supplied as tube stock, so the plant is young: a compact rosette of leaves on an established root system, ready to pot into a 130mm or 150mm pot on arrival. It will not look like a mature specimen on day one.

Small foliage plants travel well packed upright, and yours is delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Give it a fortnight in bright indirect light to settle before you expect new leaves. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to keep your indoor plants alive covers the mistakes behind most losses.
• Browse the full indoor plant range.
• Compare other pet friendly indoor plants for a home with cats or dogs.
• Find a pot sized to suit it.

Common questions

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

Yes. Peperomias are listed as non toxic to cats and dogs, so a curious pet chewing a leaf is not a poisoning risk. Eating a lot of any plant can still upset a stomach.

Why are the leaves losing their red edge?

Almost always too little light. Move it closer to a window with bright indirect light and the new leaves will colour up properly, though existing ones will not change.

How often should I water it?

Roughly weekly in summer and every two to three weeks in winter, always checking that the top half of the mix is dry first. Soft, collapsing stems mean the mix has stayed wet too long.