Love the glossy, rubbery leaves of a baby rubber plant but want a little more color? Meet Peperomia obtusifolia ‘Variegata’, the variegated baby rubber plant. Same easy-going plant, with creamy edges on every leaf.
It belongs to the pepper family (Piperaceae), and ‘Variegata’ is a cultivar with glossy green leaves and cream variegation. You’ll also see the species sold as American rubber plant, oval leaf peperomia and pepper face. For the all-green plant, see our guide to Peperomia obtusifolia.
Peperomia Obtusifolia ‘Variegata’ Quick Care Tips
- Botanical name: Peperomia obtusifolia ‘Variegata’
- Common names: Variegated baby rubber plant; the species is also called baby rubber plant, American rubber plant, oval leaf peperomia and pepper face
- Family and origin: Piperaceae; the species is native to Florida, Mexico, the Caribbean and tropical America
- Growability: Easy, low maintenance
- Hardiness zones: USDA 10 to 11 (listings vary, up to 10 to 12)
- Size: About 6 to 12 inches tall; ‘Variegata’ is often listed at about 25 cm (10 inches)
- Flowering: Tiny greenish-white flowers on thin spikes; not showy, and rare indoors
- Light: Bright, indirect light; no direct sun
- Temperature: Warm and steady, away from cold drafts; 65 to 86°F, always above 50°F; outdoors only once nights stay at 60°F or higher
- Humidity: Average home humidity is usually fine; a humidifier helps in winter
- Soil: Well-drained houseplant or cactus potting mix
- Water: Let the soil dry out between waterings; water less in winter
- Fertilizer: Light feeding in spring and summer only
- Pests and problems: Mites, mealybugs and whiteflies; root rot and leaf drop from overwatering
- Propagation: Stem cuttings (in soil or water)
- Pet safety: Non-toxic to dogs and cats
Peperomia Obtusifolia Variegata Care (American Rubber Plant)
Size and Growth
This is a compact plant. UF/IFAS Extension says the baby rubber plant seldom grows taller than 12 inches, with a height of 6 to 12 inches and a spread of 1 to 2 feet, at a moderate growth rate. The Royal Horticultural Society describes ‘Variegata’ as a stiff, upright then spreading plant to about 25 cm (10 inches) tall.
The stems are thick and the leaves are thick, waxy and cupped. The leaves are almost as thick as a succulent’s and grow 2 to 6 inches long, though some descriptions give a leaf length of 2 to 4 inches. As the plant grows, it spreads into a clump and will spill over the edge of a pot, or cascade over the side of a hanging basket.
The variegation is the star of the show. Descriptions vary: grey-green, blotched green leaves with a broad, creamy-white margin; dark green and grayish green leaves bordered by creamy white; or bright green leaves with wide yellow-green margins. No two leaves are patterned quite the same.
Flowering and Fragrance
Don’t expect a flower show. The flowers are minute and white-cream, with no petals, crowded on an upright spike 3.5 to 5 inches long. ‘Variegata’ produces tail-like spikes of tiny greenish-white flowers from spring to autumn, though blooms rarely appear when the plant is grown as a houseplant.
Many growers snip the spikes off. Peperomia flower spikes are considered unattractive and resemble a rat’s tail, and removing them lets the plant focus its energy on leaves. More in what to do with peperomia flower spikes.
Does it smell like maple syrup? Nothing in the extension or botanical garden profiles says so. The stem is listed as not aromatic, and none of the profiles mention a scent from the leaves or flowers.
Light Requirements
Bright, indirect light keeps the cream edges looking their best. Clemson Extension suggests indirect light from an east- or south-facing window and says peperomia can tolerate somewhat low light near a large north-facing window. If it gets direct sun, it says, the leaves may scorch.
Green plants handle dim spots best. The species tolerates low light for several months without stress, especially the non-variegated cultivars. Another approach is bright indirect light while the plant is growing, then full light in winter.
Temperature and Humidity
Peperomias like it warm. NC State Extension says the common name radiator plant refers to their preference for warm conditions, and it advises protecting them from cold drafts. The baby rubber plant does not tolerate very drafty sites, so keep it away from drafty windows, doors and air-conditioning vents. Aim for 18 to 30°C (65 to 86°F), 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, into deep shade at first and then a bright, shady spot out of direct sun. In the garden, it is a plant for frost-free areas only: zone listings vary from USDA 10 to 11 up to 10 to 12, the range the Missouri Botanical Garden gives.
Humidity advice differs a little by source. Some profiles say the plant prefers high humidity, at least in summer, and suggest a humidified room or a tray of wet pebbles. Others say it prefers medium to low relative humidity and that peperomias handle the humidity of most homes. A humidifier helps in winter. Average home humidity is usually fine; add a little in dry winter air.
Watering and Feeding
Those thick leaves store water, so this plant would rather be a little dry than wet. Peperomia prefers to dry out between waterings, and if it is overwatered, it will drop its leaves. It is best to err on the dry side. Water moderately but consistently, letting the soil almost dry on top before you water again, and water sparingly from fall to late winter.
Use a pot with a drainage hole. Water, let the pot drain, and only then set it back in its saucer. Overwatering is a big problem that yellows the leaves and can lead to root rot.
Go light on fertilizer. Feed peperomia only while it is actively growing in spring and summer, with a low-strength liquid fertilizer used occasionally or a slow-release granular fertilizer once a year. A balanced liquid fertilizer monthly from spring to summer works too. Either way, skip feeding in winter and follow the label.
Soil and Repotting
A well-drained houseplant or cactus potting mix works, and so does a peaty potting mix. Whatever you use, drainage matters most: the plant must have well-drained conditions to avoid stem and root rot.
You won’t be repotting often. Peperomia does not need to be repotted every year and can stay in the same pot for several years, and it should go into a pot only slightly larger than the grower’s pot. Peperomias are typically slow growing and will not need repotting often.
Grooming and Maintenance
A little trimming keeps the plant full. Trim off old leaves when needed and prune a stem just above a leaf node so the plant branches and looks fuller. Cut back foliage as needed to keep the plant’s shape.
Keep the leaves dry when you water. Avoiding wet leaves and providing good air circulation helps prevent leaf spots, and keeping the leaves dry at watering time prevents fungal leaf spots. While you’re there, check the undersides of the leaves for pests.
Other peperomias you may like: Peperomia Rosso, Peperomia prostrata, watermelon peperomia and Peperomia polybotrya.
How To Propagate Variegated Baby Rubber Plant
Stem cuttings are the way to go with this one. Here are the steps for peperomia stem cuttings:
- 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 cut end in rooting hormone and insert it into potting soil or a rooting medium.
- Cover it with clear plastic and keep it out of direct sunlight.
The baby rubber plant also roots easily in water. Take a 4- to 6-inch cutting, remove the lower leaves, set it in a small container of water in bright, indirect light, and pot it once roots and new leaves form. Cuttings root easily, and the plant can also be divided.
Skip single-leaf cuttings for this one. A foliage research note says stem cuttings with one or more buds are necessary to propagate variegated cultivars, and that Peperomia obtusifolia and its cultivars are propagated by stem cuttings. Leaf cuttings suit rosette types such as watermelon peperomia, which the same note says is usually propagated from leaf cuttings.
Learn more in our article on peperomia propagation.
Variegated Baby Rubber Plant Pests and Diseases
Serious problems are rare. The plant’s long-term health is usually not affected by pests, and mites are its main pest problem. The baby rubber plant has no serious pest or disease problems, but watch for mealybugs, spider mites and whiteflies; ‘Variegata’ may be susceptible to mealybugs.
Most trouble starts at the watering can. Root rot, caused by overwatering, is the most common peperomia disease, and stem rots and leaf spot diseases show up too. Let the soil dry between waterings, and empty the saucer.
Is Variegated Peperomia Safe for Pets?
Yes. The ASPCA lists Peperomia obtusifolia (baby rubber plant, pepper face, American rubber plant) as non-toxic to dogs and non-toxic to cats; its baby rubber plant page stops there, but its American rubber plant entry for the same species also lists horses. Most peperomias are considered safe for pets. If you suspect your pet has eaten something toxic, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center or your local veterinarian as soon as possible.
Does It Clean the Air?
The old care box called this an air-purifying plant. Iowa State University Extension says that while NASA’s 1989 research found plants could remove chemicals from the air inside small sealed test chambers, houseplants in reality have little effect on air quality in a home or office. Grow it for its leaves, not as an air purifier.
Peperomia Obtusifolia Variegata Plant Uses
Indoors, it is a natural for a desk, tabletop or windowsill. The species is commonly used as a desktop plant, and it makes a durable houseplant that will cascade over the side of a hanging basket.
In frost-free gardens, it does double duty as a groundcover. Florida peperomia is good for filling shaded areas as a groundcover in Central and South Florida, thrives in partial and deep shade, and burns in direct sun. The wild species is native to Florida, where the Atlas of Florida Plants lists it as state endangered.
The Bottom Line
The variegated baby rubber plant is about as easy as houseplants get. Give it bright, indirect light, let the soil dry between waterings, keep it warm and out of drafts, and feed it lightly in spring and summer. Do that, and those cream-edged leaves will brighten a desk or shelf for years.
Do you grow the green or the variegated form? Tell us which one has a spot in your home!
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I care for a variegated baby rubber plant?
Give it bright, indirect light and let the soil dry out between waterings. Direct sun may scorch the leaves, and an overwatered peperomia drops its leaves. Use a well-drained houseplant or cactus potting mix, feed lightly only in spring and summer, and keep the plant out of cold drafts. It can stay in the same pot for several years.
How often should I water Peperomia obtusifolia ‘Variegata’?
Water when the soil has dried out. Peperomia prefers to dry out between waterings, and it is best to err on the dry side. Let the soil almost dry on top and water less from fall to late winter. Let the pot drain before it goes back in its saucer, since overwatering leads to root rot.
Is the variegated baby rubber plant toxic to cats and dogs?
No. Peperomia obtusifolia, the baby rubber plant, is non-toxic to dogs and cats, and the same species is also listed as non-toxic to horses. Most peperomias are considered safe for pets. More in are peperomia plants toxic to cats.
Does peperomia smell like maple syrup?
Nothing in the extension or botanical garden profiles says so. The baby rubber plant’s stem is listed as not aromatic, and the profiles describe tiny, greenish-white flowers on spikes without mentioning any scent. The flowers are small and not showy, and they rarely appear on plants grown indoors.
How do you propagate a variegated baby rubber plant?
Use stem cuttings. Stem cuttings with one or more buds are necessary for propagating variegated cultivars. A 3- to 5-inch stem piece with the lower leaves removed, dipped in rooting hormone and kept out of direct sun, works well, and baby rubber plant cuttings of 4 to 6 inches also root easily in water.