Peperomia caperata Eden Rosso - Radiator plant

The Peperomia caperata 'Rosso' is an adorable little plant cherished for its dark green, deeply veined and incurved, elongated leaves. The underside of the leaves is bright red. Peperomias appreciate moderate to bright light without direct sunlight. They prefer to be slightly neglected as they are more sensitive to root rot than to occasional drought.

The Peperomia genus belongs to the Piperaceae family and includes nearly 1,700 species, often with fleshy foliage, primarily native to Central and South America but also to Asia. Some grow naturally as far as Florida. These tropical plants thrive in woodland settings, in dappled light and humid conditions, sometimes as epiphytes or among rocks. Also known as Peperomia 'Eden Rosso', the Peperomia 'Rosso' is a cultivar developed for the renowned Eden Collection in the Netherlands in 2010, which has since proven its worth. It originates from the Peperomia caperata species native to southeastern Brazil, also called White-veined Peperomia, Wrinkled Peperomia, or Blind Man's Cane. The 'Rosso' forms a small, spreading clump reaching 30 cm in height and 35 cm in width. Its semi-succulent leaves are lanceolate and pointed, marked by deep veins. Their much more visible underside than on other varieties due to its dense and bushy habit, is a purplish-red, creating a lovely contrast with the upper lamina. The petioles are also tinged with red. Its growth is relatively slow. Although mainly grown for its foliage, the plant may produce small, inconspicuous greenish-white flowers on slender spikes. The name 'Peperomia' is derived from the Greek words 'peperi' (pepper) and 'homoios' (resembling). This etymology highlights the plant's connection to the Piperaceae family which also includes black pepper (Piper nigrum).

The Peperomia caperata 'Rosso' thrives in a spot where it can be admired up close such as on a desk among a small collection of Peperomias, or on a shelf alongside Pileas, which are also striking with their small, textured, and colourful foliage. A blue fern with elongated leaves like a Phlebodium aureum would also form a good companion.