Shiny, teardrop-shaped leaves that look like they were polished this morning. That’s Peperomia polybotrya [pep-er-ROH-mee-uh] [pol-ly-BOT-ree-uh], the coin-leaf or raindrop peperomia, a compact houseplant that stays about a foot tall and asks for very little.
It is a low-maintenance houseplant with fleshy, glossy, teardrop-shaped leaves. The leaves are peltate, meaning the leaf stem attaches to the underside of the leaf instead of its edge, which leaves a small dimple on the top of each leaf.
If it reminds you of the Chinese money plant, you’re not alone. The raindrop plant is often mistaken for the Chinese money plant (Pilea peperomioides), but it is easier to grow. The two are different plants from different families.
Peperomia Polybotrya Quick Care Tips
- Botanical name: Peperomia polybotrya
- Common names: Raindrop peperomia, raindrop plant, coin-leaf peperomia, teardrop peperomia; see also our Peperomia raindrop guide
- Not to be confused with: Chinese money plant or coin plant (Pilea peperomioides)
- Previously known as: Piper polybotrya
- Pronunciation: pep-er-ROH-mee-uh pol-ly-BOT-ree-uh
- Family and origin: Piperaceae (pepper family); native to Colombia, Ecuador and Peru
- Growability: Easy, low maintenance
- Hardiness zones: USDA 10 to 12; a houseplant almost everywhere else
- Size: About 10 inches to 1 foot tall and wide
- Flowering: Greenish-white, tail-like spikes in summer; rarely flowers indoors
- Light: Bright, indirect light; no direct sun
- Temperature: 65 to 75°F indoors; keep above 50°F; peperomias in general take 65 to 86°F, always above 50°F
- Humidity: Thrives in high humidity but tolerates average household humidity
- Soil: Well-drained houseplant or cactus potting mix
- Water: Let the soil dry out between waterings
- Fertilizer: Low-strength liquid fertilizer occasionally in spring and summer, or slow-release granules once a year
- Pests and problems: Spider mites, mealybugs, fungus gnats, scale; root rot from overwatering; leaf spots from wet leaves
- Propagation: Leaf cuttings or stem cuttings
- Pets: No pet-toxicity listing for this species; most peperomia are considered safe for pets
- Uses: Desks, tabletops, shelves and small spaces in the home or office
Raindrop Peperomia vs Chinese Money Plant
This is the mix-up that trips up most buyers, and plant tags don’t always help. NC State Extension notes that Peperomia polybotrya is often confused with Pilea peperomioides. Its Pilea peperomioides page lists Chinese money plant, coin plant, friendship plant, missionary plant, pancake plant and UFO plant as that plant’s common names. So “Chinese money plant” and “coin plant” belong to the pilea, not to this peperomia.
How to tell them apart? Look at the leaf shape. Raindrop peperomia leaves are teardrop-shaped and the pilea’s are circular. Both have the leaf stem attached under the leaf rather than at its edge, which is part of why they get mixed up. They aren’t close relatives either: the raindrop peperomia is in the pepper family (Piperaceae) and the pilea in the nettle family (Urticaceae).
The name is a better clue than the tag. The genus name comes from the Greek peperi (pepper) and homoios (resembling), a nod to its kinship with black pepper, Piper nigrum. In fact, Piper polybotrya is this plant’s former name.
Coin Leaf Peperomia – Peperomia Polybotrya Care
Caring for the coin-leaf peperomia is not hard. Get the light and the watering right, and the rest takes care of itself.
Where It Comes From
Raindrop peperomia is a tropical perennial native to Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, where it thrives in warm, humid climates. The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew) gives the same three countries as its native range.
It belongs to a very large group. The genus Peperomia has over 1,000 species in the black pepper family, Piperaceae, native to the tropical and subtropical areas of Central and South America, Africa, Southeast Asia and parts of Australia.
Size and Growth
This is a compact plant. It has an erect growth habit and matures at about 1 foot tall and equally wide, or 12 inches tall and wide. That makes it a good fit for a desk, a side table or a shelf.
The fleshy leaves hold water, which is part of why it’s so forgiving. The University of Missouri describes coin leaf peperomia’s leaves as shiny, succulent and tolerant of drying. There is also a variegated cultivar, ‘Verdant Flame’, with leaves of creamy yellow and green.
Flowering
The flowers are more curious than pretty. They are greenish-white, long, slender, tail-like spikes that bloom in summer, and as a houseplant it rarely flowers. Peperomia flower spikes are considered unattractive and are said to resemble a rat’s tail, and removing them lets the plant focus its energy on leaves. Learn more about the peperomia flower spike.
Light Requirements and Temperature
Bright, indirect light is what it wants. This plant prefers bright, indirect sunlight. Indirect light from an east- or south-facing window works well for peperomia, and it can tolerate somewhat low light near a large north-facing window.
Keep it out of hot, direct sun. Direct sunlight can scorch the leaves.
Raindrop peperomia likes it warm, not cool. It does best indoors at 65 to 75°F, and you should keep peperomias warm (above 50°F). The genus’s common name, radiator plant, refers to its preference for warm conditions. For peperomias in general, the RHS gives a warm room of about 65 to 86°F (18 to 30°C) and says to keep them always above 50°F (10°C).
Outdoors year-round, it is listed for USDA hardiness zones 10 to 12 only. Everywhere else, it can still enjoy a summer outside. Peperomia can go outdoors once night temperatures are consistently 60°F or higher, starting in deep shade to adjust, then kept in a bright but shady spot out of direct sun.
Humidity
Average home humidity is fine. Raindrop peperomia thrives in high humidity but will tolerate the humidity of the average household. Peperomia will benefit from a humidifier in winter.
Skip the misting. Avoid wetting the leaves to prevent leaf spots; fungal leaf spots can be prevented by keeping the leaves dry when you water. A humidifier raises humidity without wetting the foliage.
Peperomia Raindrop Watering and Feeding
Watering is where raindrop peperomias most often get into trouble, usually from too much. Clemson Extension says peperomia prefers to dry out between waterings, and that an overwatered plant will drop its leaves.
Use your finger to check. There are two timings by type: wait until the potting mix is almost completely dry for truly succulent peperomias (such as P. obtusifolia), and water when the mix is dry a couple of inches down for less succulent types such as P. argyreia and P. caperata. This plant’s leaves are succulent and tolerant of drying. When you do water, let the pot drain before setting it back in its saucer, so the roots never sit in water.
Watch the leaves, too. Root rot and yellowing or curling of the leaves indicate overwatering. Water less in winter.
Go easy on fertilizer. Fertilize peperomia only while it is actively growing in spring and summer, using a low-strength liquid fertilizer occasionally, or a slow-release granular fertilizer once a year. Skip feeding in fall and winter.
Soil and Transplanting
Drainage matters more than richness. Use a well-drained houseplant or cactus potting mix, or add perlite or orchid bark to a commercial potting mix so water drains quickly. Clay pots work better than plastic for peperomias because water can escape through the pot’s sides.
You won’t repot often. Peperomia does not need repotting every year and can stay in the same pot for several years. When you do move it, use a pot only slightly larger than the grower’s pot.
Grooming and Maintenance
Raindrop peperomia needs very little grooming. Trim off old leaves when needed, and prune a stem just above a leaf node if you want the plant to branch and look fuller. Snip off faded flower spikes, too.
Dusty leaves lose their shine. Wipe them gently with a soft, dry cloth rather than spraying them, since wet leaves invite leaf spots.
How To Propagate Coin Leaf Peperomia
Want more plants? Leaf cuttings and stem cuttings are recommended for raindrop peperomia, and peperomia are easy to propagate. Here are the steps.
Leaf cuttings: Remove a whole leaf with at least an inch of its leaf stem (petiole) attached. Insert the leaf into a rooting medium. New plants form at the base of the petiole and can then be removed and potted.
Stem cuttings: Cut a 3- to 5-inch piece of stem from the parent plant and remove the leaves on the lower third. Dip the cut end in rooting hormone, then insert it into potting soil or a rooting medium.
For stem cuttings, cover them with clear plastic and keep them out of direct sunlight. Keep the rooting medium lightly moist, not wet.
Peperomia Polybotrya Pests or Diseases
Raindrop peperomia has few serious problems. Monitor for spider mites, mealybugs, fungus gnats, scale and whiteflies, the pests occasionally found on peperomia.
Spider mites. The University of California Statewide IPM Program (UC IPM) says spider mite damage first shows up as stippling, tiny light dots on the leaves, and that heavily infested leaves can turn yellow and drop. If you see stippling or fine webbing, check the undersides of the leaves, where the mites live in colonies. Sprays of water, insecticidal oils or insecticidal soaps can be used for management; cover the leaf undersides completely, and test a product on one or two plants first. More in our guide to an infestation of red spider mites.
Mealybugs. These look like small, white, cottony masses on stems, leaves and leaf joints. For serious problems on houseplants, dab them with a solution of 70% (or less) isopropyl alcohol and water, testing on a small part of the plant first and watching for leaf burn. Insecticidal soaps, horticultural oils and neem oil applied directly to young mealybugs can also reduce their numbers. UF/IFAS Extension is more cautious: it says alcohol is phytotoxic, meaning it can burn leaves, and should not be applied to plant tissues, and it advises against using dish detergents as pest sprays. If you try alcohol, test it first and use a cotton swab on the insects only.
Root rot. Root rot is caused by overwatering and is the most common disease of peperomia. Let the soil dry between waterings and empty the saucer after watering.
Leaf spots. Avoid wetting the leaves to prevent leaf spots. Water the soil, not the foliage.
Is Peperomia Polybotrya Safe for Pets?
Good news for pet owners. The ASPCA does not have a listing for Peperomia polybotrya, but it lists two other peperomias, red edge peperomia (P. clusiifolia) and baby rubber plant (P. obtusifolia), as non-toxic to dogs and cats, and most peperomia are considered safe for pets.
Even so, keep it where pets can’t chew on it, and call your veterinarian if you’re worried about something your pet ate.
Suggested Uses For Raindrop Peperomia
With its compact size and glossy leaves, raindrop peperomia earns a spot almost anywhere indoors. Its unique foliage and low maintenance make it appealing in an office or home setting, and peperomias in general are perfect plants for a desk or tabletop.
Try one on a bright desk, a bookshelf near an east window or grouped with other small houseplants. Just keep it out of hot, direct sun and away from cold drafts.
The Bottom Line
Raindrop peperomia is about as easy as houseplants get. Give it bright, indirect light, let the soil dry before you water, keep it warm, and go light on the fertilizer. Do that and those glossy raindrop leaves will keep shining for years.
Is yours a true raindrop peperomia or a Chinese money plant in disguise? Tell us which one you have!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Peperomia polybotrya the same as the Chinese money plant?
No. The raindrop plant is often mistaken for the Chinese money plant, Pilea peperomioides, but it is easier to grow. Chinese money plant and coin plant are Pilea names. Raindrop peperomia leaves are teardrop-shaped and pilea leaves are circular, and the two plants are in different families.
How often should I water a raindrop peperomia?
Water when the soil has dried. Peperomia prefers to dry out between waterings and drops its leaves when overwatered. Truly succulent peperomias should be watered when the mix is almost completely dry, and less succulent types when it is dry a couple of inches down. Let the pot drain before returning it to its saucer so the roots never sit in water.
How much light does Peperomia polybotrya need?
Bright, indirect light suits it best. It prefers bright, indirect sunlight, and direct sunlight can scorch peperomia leaves. An east- or south-facing window with indirect light works well, and peperomia can tolerate somewhat low light near a large north-facing window.
Why are my raindrop peperomia’s leaves turning yellow?
Too much water is the usual cause. Root rot and yellowing or curling of the leaves indicate overwatering, and root rot is the most common disease of peperomia. Let the soil dry between waterings, use a well-drained houseplant or cactus mix, and never leave the pot sitting in water.
Is raindrop peperomia safe for cats and dogs?
Most likely, yes. Peperomia polybotrya itself has no listing, but P. clusiifolia and P. obtusifolia are listed as non-toxic to dogs and cats, and most peperomia are considered safe for pets. Even so, keep it where pets can’t chew on it, and call your veterinarian if you’re worried.