Looking for a small plant with chunky, round leaves that spills over the edge of its pot? Peperomia ‘Hope’ [pep-er-ROH-mee-uh, HOPE] fits on a desk, a shelf or in a small hanging basket, and it asks for very little.
‘Hope’ is a modern hybrid, not a wild species. Its US plant patent (PP24794), issued in 2014, names the cross as Peperomia deppeana x quadrifolia: breeder Josephus van der Velden made the cross in February 2007 in Sint-Oedenrode, the Netherlands, and picked ‘Hope’ out of the seedlings that July. The patent says it has thicker leaves than either parent, brighter green than P. quadrifolia, and shorter spaces between the leaves. Not every source agrees on the parentage: some list ‘Hope’ as a cultivar of P. rotundifolia, describing it as low growing and trailing, with miniature green round leaves.
Like every peperomia, it belongs to the black pepper family, Piperaceae. The genus name comes from the Greek peperi (pepper) and homoios (resembling), and the genus counts over 1,000 species. Many are grown as houseplants; see our guide to types of peperomia plants.
Peperomia Hope Quick Care Tips
- Name: Peperomia ‘Hope’ (P. deppeana x P. quadrifolia), US Plant Patent PP24794
- Family: Piperaceae (black pepper family)
- Other common name: radiator plant, a name used for the whole genus
- Size: small and trailing; the patent plants spread about 7.7 inches (19.6 cm) at five months old
- Light: bright, indirect light; tolerates lower light; no direct sun
- Water: let the mix dry between waterings; let the pot drain before it goes back in its saucer
- Humidity: fine in most homes; a humidifier helps in winter
- Soil: well-drained houseplant or cactus potting mix in a pot with drainage holes
- Fertilizer: spring and summer only, light feeding
- Hardiness zones: USDA 10a to 12b for the genus
- Propagation: stem or leaf cuttings
- Pets: no listing for ‘Hope’ itself; most peperomia are considered safe for pets
Peperomia Hope Care
Size and Growth Habit
‘Hope’ is a low, spreading plant, and its stems can trail over the edge of the pot as they lengthen. The patent describes about five main stems, each roughly 5.6 inches (14.2 cm) long, on a five-month-old plant that spread about 7.7 inches. The leaves are broad and nearly round, about 1.2 inches (3 cm) long, slightly glossy on top and held opposite each other or in whorls of four.
That compact size makes it a good fit for a desk, a windowsill, a dish garden or a small hanging basket where the stems can trail. Peperomias are typically slow-growing and will not need repotting often.
Check the plant tag for the name ‘Hope’. It is a different plant from the string of turtles, Peperomia prostrata.
Flowering
Don’t count on flowers. Peperomias in the wild produce small greenish-white to brown flower spikes in summer, but as houseplants they typically will not flower. The ‘Hope’ patent reports no flowering observed on its test plants.
If a spike does appear, know that peperomia flower spikes show up in spring and summer while the plant is actively growing, look a bit like a rat’s tail, and can be removed so the plant puts its energy into leaves.
Light and Temperature
Bright, indirect light is the sweet spot. NC State Extension says peperomias prefer bright indirect light but tolerate low light, and that direct sunlight can scorch the leaves. Indirect light from an east- or south-facing window works well, and peperomia can even tolerate somewhat low light near a large north-facing window.
Think warm and steady. The common name radiator plant refers to the genus’s preference for warm conditions, so protect peperomias from cold drafts. The ‘Hope’ patent plants were grown at about 75°F during the day and 68°F at night. For the genus as a whole, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) gives 18 to 30°C (65 to 86°F) and says to keep peperomias out of cold draughts and always above 10°C (50°F).
Want to give it a summer outdoors? Peperomias can go outside once night temperatures stay at 60°F or higher, in deep shade at first and then a bright but shady spot with no direct sun.
The genus is hardy in USDA zones 10a to 12b. In South Florida, peperomia is also used as a groundcover. Everywhere else, ‘Hope’ is a houseplant.
Watering Peperomia Hope
Most peperomia trouble starts with the watering can. Peperomia prefers to dry out between waterings and will drop its leaves if overwatered. Water, let the pot drain, and only then set it back in its saucer.
There is no set schedule that works in every home. Check the potting mix with your finger before you water, and expect to water less often in the cooler months. UF/IFAS Extension puts it simply for the baby rubber plant: it is best to err on the dry side.
Keep water off the leaves when you can. Avoiding wet leaves and providing good air circulation helps prevent leaf spots.
Humidity
Peperomias are adaptable and can thrive in the humidity levels of most homes, but a humidifier helps if your home is very dry. Peperomia benefits from a humidifier in winter.
Fertilizing
Go light. Fertilize peperomia only when it is actively growing in spring and summer. A low-strength liquid fertilizer used occasionally during the growing season works, or a slow-release granular fertilizer once a year. Skip feeding in fall and winter.
Soil and Repotting
Use a well-drained houseplant or cactus potting mix, or a moist, well-drained mix of loam and sand. Whatever you use, the pot needs drainage holes.
‘Hope’ does not need repotting every year. Peperomia can stay in the same pot for several years, and when you do move it up, choose a pot only slightly larger than the one it came in.
Pruning and Grooming
Trailing stems can get long and leggy. Trim off old leaves as needed and prune a stem just above a leaf node to make the plant branch and look fuller. The pieces you cut off make good cuttings.
Related: Explore the unique Peperomia Prostrata plant and its care requirements.
How to Propagate Hope Peperomia
The patent says ‘Hope’ is propagated by vegetative cuttings, and that a cutting took about 25 days to root at about 68°F (20°C). There are two easy methods for peperomias:
- Stem cuttings: cut a 3- to 5-inch piece of stem, remove the leaves on the lower third, dip the end in rooting hormone and insert it into potting soil or a rooting medium. Cover with clear plastic and keep it out of direct sun.
- Leaf cuttings: remove a leaf with at least an inch of its petiole (leaf stem) and insert it into a rooting medium. New plants form at the base of the petiole and can be potted up once they grow.
Peperomia Hope Pests and Problems
Pests are occasional, not constant. Monitor peperomias for mealybugs, spider mites, aphids, scale, fungus gnats and whiteflies. Check the undersides of leaves and the stem joints when you water so you catch them early.
- Root rot: the most common disease of peperomia, caused by overwatering. Drain the pot after watering and let the mix dry between waterings.
- Yellow or curling leaves: root rot and yellowing or curling of the leaves indicate overwatering. Check the watering before you reach for fertilizer.
- Corky, scab-like bumps under the leaves: the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station describes corky scab, or oedema, on peperomia: raised, scab-like swellings on the undersides of leaves that start as water-soaked blisters. It is often tied to overwatering, especially in cloudy, cool weather, so watch moisture levels closely then.
- Scorched or faded leaves: direct sunlight can scorch peperomia leaves. Move the plant back from the window or behind a sheer curtain.
- Leaf spots: keep water off the foliage and give the plant good air circulation.
More on: Radiator plant pests and diseases here
Is Peperomia Hope Safe for Pets?
Clemson Extension says most peperomia are considered safe for pets. ‘Hope’ itself is not on the ASPCA’s plant list, and neither are its two parent species. Some other peperomias are listed, such as the baby rubber plant (Peperomia obtusifolia) as non-toxic to dogs and cats (its American rubber plant entry for the same species also lists horses), and the emerald ripple peperomia (Peperomia caperata) as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses, but those listings cover those species, not ‘Hope’.
Even so, keep it where curious cats, dogs and small children can’t chew on it.
Using Peperomia Hope Around the Home
Its small size and trailing stems suit a desk, a windowsill, a shelf edge, a terrarium or a small hanging basket. Some peperomias are perfect for hanging baskets while others fit terrariums.
Want more small peperomias? The watermelon peperomia (Peperomia argyreia) has silver-striped leaves and grows to about 8 inches tall. The baby rubber plant (Peperomia obtusifolia) has rounded, thick, succulent-like leaves that are variegated or solid green, and ‘Minima’ is a compact cultivar with leaves one to two inches long. Peperomia caperata, the ripple peperomia, has deeply ridged leaves that are dark green to burgundy, and its cultivars come in burgundy-red or green with silver variegation.
What’s on your desk right now? A little ‘Hope’ might be just what that corner needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Peperomia Hope a cross of?
Peperomia ‘Hope’ is a hybrid of Peperomia deppeana and Peperomia quadrifolia. Its US plant patent (PP24794) says breeder Josephus van der Velden made the cross in February 2007 in Sint-Oedenrode, the Netherlands. According to the patent, ‘Hope’ has bigger, thicker leaves than P. deppeana and thicker, brighter green leaves with shorter internodes than P. quadrifolia. Some lists, by contrast, treat ‘Hope’ as a cultivar of Peperomia rotundifolia.
How often should I water Peperomia Hope?
Water when the potting mix has dried, not on a fixed calendar. Peperomia prefers to dry out between waterings and drops leaves when overwatered; let the pot drain before returning it to its saucer. Root rot and yellowing or curling leaves indicate overwatering. Check the mix with a finger first.
How much light does Peperomia Hope need?
Bright, indirect light is best. Peperomias prefer bright indirect light, tolerate low light, and can scorch in direct sunlight. An east- or south-facing window with indirect light works well, and peperomia can tolerate somewhat low light near a large north-facing window. Keep it out of direct sun.
Is Peperomia Hope safe for cats and dogs?
‘Hope’ itself is not on the major pet-toxicity plant lists, so there is no listing for this plant. Most peperomia are considered safe for pets. Keep it where pets that like to chew plants can’t reach it.
How do I propagate Peperomia Hope?
Use stem or leaf cuttings. Take a 3- to 5-inch stem piece, strip the lower third of leaves, dip it in rooting hormone and plant it, or insert a leaf with at least an inch of petiole into a rooting medium. The ‘Hope’ patent reports a rooted cutting in about 25 days at about 20°C (68°F).
