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 NC State Extension lists ‘Variegata’ as 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 (UF/IFAS); NC State and Missouri Botanical Garden list 10 to 12
- Size: About 6 to 12 inches tall (UF/IFAS); RHS lists ‘Variegata’ 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; the RHS peperomia page gives 65 to 86°F, always above 50°F; outdoors only once nights stay at 60°F or higher (Clemson)
- 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 (ASPCA)
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. NC State says the leaves are almost as thick as a succulent’s and grow 2 to 6 inches long, and UF/IFAS gives 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. UF/IFAS says it will cascade over the side of a hanging basket.
The variegation is the star of the show. UF/IFAS describes ‘Variegata’ as grey-green, blotched green leaves with a broad, creamy-white margin, and UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions describes dark green and grayish green leaves bordered by creamy white.
The RHS describes 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. NC State describes the flowers as minute and white-cream, with no petals, crowded on an upright spike 3.5 to 5 inches long.
The RHS says ‘Variegata’ produces tail-like spikes of tiny greenish-white flowers from spring to autumn. UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions adds that blooms rarely appear when the plant is grown as a houseplant.
Many growers snip the spikes off. Clemson Extension says peperomia flower spikes are considered unattractive and resemble a rat’s tail, and that 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. NC State lists the stem as not aromatic, and none of the UF/IFAS, RHS or Missouri Botanical Garden 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. NC State says the species tolerates low light for several months without stress, especially the non-variegated cultivars. The RHS suggests bright indirect light while the plant is growing and moving it into 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.
NC State says the baby rubber plant does not tolerate very drafty sites, so keep it away from drafty windows, doors and air-conditioning vents. The RHS peperomia page 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? Clemson says 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: UF/IFAS lists USDA zones 10 to 11, while NC State and Missouri Botanical Garden list zones 10 to 12.
Humidity advice differs a little by source. UF/IFAS says the plant prefers high humidity, and Missouri Botanical Garden says it likes high humidity in summer and suggests a humidified room or a tray of wet pebbles.
NC State says it prefers medium to low relative humidity, and the NC State genus page says peperomias handle the humidity of most homes. Clemson suggests a humidifier 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 prefers to be a little dry rather than wet. Clemson says peperomia prefers to dry out between waterings and that overwatering will cause it to drop its leaves.
UF/IFAS says it is best to err on the dry side. Missouri Botanical Garden suggests watering moderately but consistently, letting the topsoil almost dry before watering again, and watering less from fall to late winter. The RHS says to water moderately in summer and sparingly in winter.
Use a pot with a drainage hole. Clemson suggests watering, letting the pot drain, and only then setting it back in its saucer. NC State says overwatering is a big problem that can yellow leaves and lead to root rot.
Go light on fertilizer. Clemson says to 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.
The RHS suggests a balanced liquid fertilizer monthly from spring to summer. Either way, skip feeding in winter and follow the label.
Soil and Repotting
Clemson recommends a well-drained houseplant or cactus potting mix, and Missouri Botanical Garden suggests a peaty potting mix. Whatever you use, drainage matters most: UF/IFAS says the plant must have well-drained conditions to avoid stem and root rot.
You won’t be repotting often. Clemson says peperomia does not need to be repotted every year and can stay in the same pot for several years, and that it should go into a pot only slightly larger than the grower’s pot. NC State says peperomias are typically slow growing and will not need repotting often.
Grooming and Maintenance
A little trimming keeps the plant full. Clemson suggests trimming off old leaves when needed and pruning a stem just above a leaf node so the plant branches and looks fuller. Missouri Botanical Garden says to cut back foliage as needed to keep the plant’s shape.
Keep the leaves dry when you water. NC State says avoiding wet leaves and providing good air circulation helps prevent leaf spots, and Clemson says fungal leaf spots can be prevented by keeping the leaves dry at watering time. 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. Clemson Extension gives these 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.
Clemson also says the baby rubber plant 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. UF/IFAS adds that cuttings root easily and that the plant can also be divided.
Skip single-leaf cuttings for this one. A UF/IFAS 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. UF/IFAS says the plant’s long-term health is usually not affected by pests and names mites as its main pest problem.
NC State says the baby rubber plant has no serious pest or disease problems but suggests watching for mealybugs, spider mites and whiteflies, and the RHS notes ‘Variegata’ may be susceptible to mealybugs.
Most trouble starts at the watering can. Clemson says root rot, caused by overwatering, is the most common peperomia disease, and UF/IFAS lists stem and root rots and leaf spot diseases. 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.
NC State tags the species as non-toxic for cats, dogs and horses, and Clemson says most peperomias are considered safe for pets. If you suspect your pet has eaten something toxic, the ASPCA advises calling its Animal Poison Control line 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. NC State says the species is commonly used as a desktop plant, and UF/IFAS says 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. UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions says 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. Clemson Extension says direct sun may scorch the leaves and that 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. Clemson Extension says peperomia prefers to dry out between waterings, and UF/IFAS Extension says it is best to err on the dry side. Missouri Botanical Garden suggests letting the soil almost dry on top and watering 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. The ASPCA lists Peperomia obtusifolia, the baby rubber plant, as non-toxic to dogs and cats (its American rubber plant entry for the same species also lists horses), and NC State Extension also tags it non-toxic for cats, dogs and horses. Clemson Extension says 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. NC State Extension lists the baby rubber plant’s stem as not aromatic, and the UF/IFAS, RHS and Missouri Botanical Garden profiles describe tiny, greenish-white flowers on spikes without mentioning any scent. The flowers are small and not showy, and UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions says they rarely appear on plants grown indoors.
How do you propagate a variegated baby rubber plant?
Use stem cuttings. UF/IFAS says stem cuttings with one or more buds are necessary for propagating variegated cultivars. Clemson Extension suggests a 3- to 5-inch stem piece with the lower leaves removed, dipped in rooting hormone and kept out of direct sun, and says baby rubber plant cuttings of 4 to 6 inches also root easily in water.