Want a small houseplant with leaves that look hand-painted? Peperomia clusiifolia [pep-er-ROH-mee-uh, kloo-si-FOH-lee-uh] is the one with stiff, glossy, deep green leaves rimmed in dark red.
Also called red edged peperomia, it is an erect, mounding, evergreen, succulent perennial that is usually grown as a houseplant in the United States. It is native to Jamaica and belongs to the pepper family, Piperaceae.
It is not a Florida native, despite what you may read. Eight Peperomia taxa are recorded in Florida, and P. clusiifolia is not one of them. Florida’s own wild cousin is Peperomia obtusifolia, known as Florida peperomia and listed as a state-endangered native.
Peperomia is a big genus, with over 1,000 species, and many of them are succulent and store water in their fleshy leaves.
Clusiifolia is sold under a pile of common names, including jelly plant, red edged peperomia, red edge peperomia, red edged radiator plant and variegated radiator plant. You will also see it sold as peperomia tricolor or as one of its cultivars:
- Ginny Peperomia (‘Ginny’, the tricolor form)
- ‘Jelly’
- ‘Red Margin’
- ‘Variegata’
Other Popular Peperomia Varieties
- Peperomia Rosso
- Peperomia Caperata (Emerald Ripple)
- Peperomia Argyreia (Watermelon)
- Peperomia Obtusifolia
- Peperomia Polybotrya
Peperomia Clusiifolia Quick Care Tips
- Botanical name: Peperomia clusiifolia
- Previously known as: Peperomia obtusifolia var. clusiifolia, Piper clusiifolium
- Common names: Jelly plant, red edged peperomia, red edge peperomia, red edged radiator plant, variegated radiator plant
- Pronunciation: pep-er-ROH-mee-uh, kloo-si-FOH-lee-uh
- Family and origin: Piperaceae; native to Jamaica, not Florida (the Atlas of Florida Plants does not list it)
- Growability: Easy, slow-growing, low maintenance
- Hardiness zones: USDA 10a to 12b
- Size: 6 inches to 1 foot tall and wide
- Flowering: Long, narrow, greenish-white spikes; rarely flowers as a houseplant
- Light: Bright, indirect light; tolerates low light; no direct sun
- Humidity: Average home humidity is fine; a humidifier helps in very dry or winter air
- Temperature: A warm room, about 65 to 86°F; keep out of cold drafts and always above 50°F
- Soil: Well-drained houseplant or cactus potting mix
- Water: Let the soil dry out between waterings; water less in winter
- Fertilizer: Low-strength liquid fertilizer occasionally in spring and summer, or half-strength every two weeks from April to October; none in winter
- Pests and problems: Mealybugs, spider mites, aphids, scale, fungus gnats, whiteflies; root rot from overwatering; leaf spots from wet leaves
- Propagation: Leaf or stem cuttings
- Pet safety: Most peperomias are considered safe for pets; red edge peperomia is non-toxic to cats, dogs and horses
- Uses: Tabletop and desk houseplant, containers, patio pots in summer, terrariums when small
Peperomia Clusiifolia Jelly Plant Care
Size and Growth
Jelly peperomia is a compact radiator plant. NC State Extension says it grows 6 inches to 1 foot tall and wide with a mounding habit, and it is slow-growing. That makes it a good size for a desk, shelf or windowsill.
The leaves are stiff, succulent-like, elliptical and glossy deep green, with red or maroon margins. The radiator plant name comes from their taste in temperature: these plants like warm conditions.
Several cultivars give you more color:
- ‘Ginny’: succulent-like, fleshy, green leaves with yellow and pink edges. It is also described as the tricolor variegated cultivar, with green and cream leaves and a pink edge.
- ‘Jelly’: wide, oval, green leaves with pink and cream edging; the leaves turn deep red as they mature.
- ‘Red Margin’: deep green leaves with slightly red edges.
- ‘Variegata’: grayish-green leaves with cream on each leaf and red and pink margins.
Flowering
Don’t buy this one for flowers. The blooms are long, narrow, greenish-white spikes, typical of peperomias, and the plant rarely flowers as a houseplant. They do look a bit like skinny worms reaching for the sky.
Peperomia flower spikes appear in spring and summer, when the plants are actively growing. They are considered unattractive and are said to resemble a rat’s tail, and removing them lets the plant put its energy into leaves.
Jelly Plant Light and Temperature
Bright, indirect light is the sweet spot. Red edge peperomia prefers bright, indirect sunlight and will tolerate low light. Indirect light from an east- or south-facing window works, it can tolerate somewhat low light near a large north-facing window, and leaves may scorch in direct sun.
The Royal Horticultural Society recommends an east- or west-facing windowsill, or a spot set back from a south-facing window. It says direct summer sun can scorch the foliage and too much shade can lead to poor, straggly growth.
No good window? University of Missouri Extension includes peperomias in its list of plants for growing under lights, in the medium light group, and says peperomias can tolerate poor light for limited periods.
Keep it warm. The best spot is a warm room, about 65 to 86°F (18 to 30°C), out of cold drafts and away from radiators, and peperomias should be kept always above 10°C (50°F).
Outdoors, red edge peperomia is winter hardy in USDA zones 10a to 12b. In cooler areas, peperomias can go outdoors for the summer once nights stay at 60°F or higher, in a bright but shady spot out of direct sun.
Humidity
You don’t need a greenhouse. Peperomias can thrive in the humidity of most homes, but a humidifier helps if your home is very dry, and in winter.
These tropical plants generally prefer humid air but adapt to most homes. If the leaves start turning brown, stand the pot on a wide tray of damp gravel.
Watering and Feeding
Overwatering is the mistake to avoid. Clemson Extension says peperomia prefers to dry out between waterings and will drop its leaves if overwatered. It also says to let the pot drain before you set it back in its saucer.
Let the compost partially dry out between waterings and check with your finger rather than watering on a schedule. Watering too much, or leaving the pot standing in water, can lead to root rot. Water less in winter when growth slows.
- Water thoroughly, then let the excess drain away.
- Check the soil with your finger before you water again.
- Empty the saucer so the pot never sits in water.
- Water less in winter.
What about tap water? Peperomias are sensitive to fluoride in tap water, which can turn the leaf tips brown, so use rainwater or filtered water whenever possible, preferably at room temperature.
Feed lightly, and only while the plant is growing. Fertilize only in spring and summer, using a low-strength liquid fertilizer occasionally, a slow-release granular fertilizer once a year, or a half-strength liquid fertilizer every two weeks from April to October. Either way, skip the winter feeding and follow the label.
Jelly Plant Soil and Transplanting
Drainage matters more than richness. Use a well-drained houseplant or cactus potting mix, or a moist, well-drained mix of loam and sand.
A loose, free-draining, slightly acidic mix also suits it: two parts peat-free ericaceous compost, one part perlite and one part medium orchid bark. A houseplant compost with added perlite also works.
Repotting is rarely urgent. This slow grower will not need repotting very often. Most peperomias can stay in their pot for two or three years, until the roots fill it or poke out of the drainage holes, and spring is the best time to repot. Choose a pot only a little larger than the root ball, because a pot that is too big stays wet longer and can rot the roots.
Grooming Peperomia Clusiifolia Jelly
Tricolor peperomia needs very little grooming. Trim off old leaves when needed, and to make the plant look fuller, prune a stem just above a leaf node so it branches.
If stems get straggly or too long, cut them back to encourage bushier growth. Those trimmings make good cuttings.
How To Propagate Jelly
Peperomia clusiifolia is easy to propagate, like many peperomias. Leaf cuttings and stem cuttings both work for this species, and spring and summer are the times to take cuttings. For more detail, see How To Propagate Peperomia.
Stem cuttings, step by step:
- Cut a 3- to 5-inch piece of stem from the parent plant.
- Remove the leaves on the lower third of the cutting.
- Dip the stem in rooting hormone, then insert it into potting soil or a rooting medium.
- Cover with clear plastic and keep it out of direct sunlight.
You can also plant cuttings straight into a gritty, free-draining mix, or stand them in a glass of water until they root and then pot them up.
Leaf cuttings: Remove a leaf with at least an inch of its leaf stem (petiole) and insert it into a rooting medium. New plants form at the base of the leaf stem and can then be removed and potted.
Division: Some peperomias can also be divided, depending on the species. If your plant has several crowns, gently separate the root ball into sections, pot each one in fresh, well-drained mix, water, and let the soil dry before the next watering.
Jelly Pest or Disease Problems
Red edge peperomia has few problems, and most of them start with the watering can. Root rot, caused by overwatering, is the most common disease of peperomia. Rotting roots show up as yellowing and dropping leaves, and the plant may eventually collapse.
If you suspect rot, stop watering and let the soil dry. If the roots are mushy, take healthy stem or leaf cuttings and start over, using the steps above.
Leaf spots are the other disease to watch for. Keep the leaves dry when you water to prevent them, and give the plant good air circulation.
For pests, monitor for mealybugs, spider mites, aphids, scale, fungus gnats and whiteflies. Check the undersides of leaves and the leaf joints when you water.
Spider mites: Sprays of water, insecticidal oils or insecticidal soaps can be used to manage them. Neem is among the acceptable plant-based oils; test a product on one or two plants first to be sure it does no damage.
Mealybugs: UC IPM says mealybugs are common on houseplants, and that insecticidal soaps, horticultural oils and neem oil applied directly to young mealybugs can reduce their numbers. The adults’ waxy coating makes sprays less effective, so check again and repeat as the label allows.
Is Peperomia Clusiifolia Safe for Pets?
Good news for pet owners. Most peperomias are considered safe for pets, and the ASPCA lists red edge peperomia (Peperomia clusiifolia) as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Still, keep an eye on plant-chewing pets, and call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center if you have concerns.
Suggested Peperomia Jelly Uses
Peperomia clusiifolia is mostly grown as an ornamental houseplant, because it doesn’t need much space. Peperomias suit a desk or tabletop in the home or office, and this species works in containers, as a houseplant and in patio pots.
Small, young plants also suit terrariums and bottle gardens; young plants and smaller species are perfect for them. Give it bright, indirect light and a well-drained pot, and it will keep those red-rimmed leaves looking sharp for years.
Which color form do you grow, the dark red edge or the tricolor ‘Ginny’? Tell us in the comments!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Peperomia clusiifolia a succulent?
It is succulent-like: a succulent perennial with stiff, succulent-like leaves, and many peperomias store water in their fleshy leaves. Use a well-drained houseplant or cactus potting mix and let the soil dry out between waterings.
How often should I water a jelly peperomia?
Water when the soil has dried out, not on a schedule. Peperomia prefers to dry out between waterings and will drop leaves if overwatered. Let the compost partially dry, check with your finger, never leave the pot standing in water, and water less in winter when growth slows.
Is Peperomia clusiifolia the same as the baby rubber plant?
It depends on who you ask. Most guides use “baby rubber plant” for Peperomia obtusifolia, but some use it for P. clusiifolia. Clusiifolia was once classed as a variety of P. obtusifolia. Check the botanical name on the label; the red leaf edge is the clue to clusiifolia.
Is red edge peperomia safe for cats and dogs?
Yes. Most peperomias are considered safe for pets, and red edge peperomia (Peperomia clusiifolia) is listed as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. If a pet chews the plant and you have concerns, call your veterinarian.
Why is my peperomia dropping leaves?
Overwatering is the most likely cause. Peperomia drops its leaves when overwatered, and root rot is its most common disease; rotting roots cause yellowing and falling leaves. Let the soil dry, empty the saucer, and use a well-drained mix. Also keep peperomias out of cold drafts.