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PEPEROMIAS

WITH ALL THIS talk of orchids, pelargoniums, and South African bulbs, perhaps you’ve jumped to the conclusion that my home is filled with flashy plants. Not so. Some plants are part of my collection simply because they are indomitable. How can you fail to love a survivor? And peperomias definitely fall into that category. Saturation coverage is my goal, and my mantra is that every nook needs nature, so peperomias fill a niche that few other plants could endure.

Peperomias are not wildly thrilling, but they do have a certain flair. With limited space and unlimited plant lust, there is no way I’m going to bother with “foliage plants,” such as Spider Pants (chlorophytums), Peace Lilies (spathiphyllums), and similar ilk. But occasionally, you need a plant with a stiff upper lip. That’s where peperomias prove invaluable.

To give you a mental image of peperomias and their breadth, the foliage in this genus is impressively diverse. However, the flowers are never going to send shock waves. In fact, I have heard them likened to rattails with a thin, seemingly naked spike that runs through the clan. There are exceptions. Peperomia fraseri is topped by small, white, feathery plumes, almost like someone drastically downsized the astilbe. But by and large, the foliage is the draw.

On the foliage front, peperomias have plenty going on. Take Peperomia incana, for example. With thick stems, thick leaves the size of your average oatmeal cookie, and silver felt covering all surfaces, it rates as semi-riveting. And, despite its succulent look, the plant can tolerate shady conditions. More mainstream is the watermelon pepper (also known as the watermelon begonia, but that’s confusing—it is not a begonia or a watermelon), Peperomia argyreia. The name refers to the silver striping that follows the contours of the leaf. The foliage emerges around a central stem, and it is a total no-brainer to cultivate. Also ultra-easy and readily available (stop by your local supermarket) is Peperomia caperata and its many cultivars, including ‘Emerald Ripple’, ‘Tricolor’, and a never-ending batch of spins. Its leaves are smaller than the watermelon pepper, and they’re thinner and rippled, with a less waxy substance. Search a little deeper into specialty nurseries, and you can find several peperomias with swollen, succulent leaves lining their stems, such as Peperomia asperula, Peperomia ferreyrae, and Peperomia dolabriformis. Some are upright, others trail, and some, such as Peperomia rotundifolia var. pilosior (with tiny, pill-like leaves on limp, threadish stems), are groundcovers. This is just the tip of the iceberg for peperomias. With more than a thousand species, many are in cultivation.

Do not expect your peperomia to break speed records. Do not even expect your peperomia to do more than move just one step ahead of suspended animation. But the flip side is that peperomias do not require much upkeep. Of course, they would love to be watered when dry, but they do not complain if you forget. They even take repeated offenses in stride. They tolerate heavy shade, but sun is dandy too (as long as you make the transition gradually).

• ALSO CALLED: radiator plants