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Jelly Plant

Peperomia clusiifolia (pep-er-ROH-mee-uh kloo-si-FOH-lee-uh)

Family: Piperaceae Unknown Herbaceous (1-3 ft)

The Red Edged Peperomia is an erect, mounding, evergreen, succulent perennial that is typically grown as a houseplant in the United States. It is native to Jamaica and is a member of the Piperaceae family. It has a mounding habit and grows 6 inches to 1 foot tall. This plant has stiff, elliptical, glossy, deep green leaves with dark red or maroon margins. The flowers are in the form of long, narrow greenish-white spikes which is characteristic of Peperomia plants; however, as a houseplant, they rarely flower. This plant prefers bright, indirect sunlight and will tolerate low-light conditions. Moist, well-drained, loamy soil is recommended, but it is best to avoid overwatering and cold drafts. It is typically slow-growing and will not require repotting very often. They are winter hardy in USDA hardiness zones 10a to 12b. The Red Edged Peperomia is the perfect houseplant for the beginner. It has beautiful ornamental foliage and is low maintenance, pet-friendly, and easy to grow. Quick ID Hints: evergreen perennial with an erect, mounding habit, 6 inches to 1 foot tall simple, stiff, elliptical, glossy, dark green leaves with dark red margins flowers are long, slender, greenish-white spikes Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Monitor for mealybugs, spider mites, aphids, scale, fungus gnats, and whiteflies. Overwatering can cause root rot. Avoid wetting the leaves which can result in leaf spots. More information on Peperomia .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 36 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft) Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Herbaceous Perennial; Houseplant
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b
Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in. | Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Slow
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Mounding
Leaf color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf shape
Elliptical
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf value
Showy
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The leaves are stiff, succulent-like, elliptical, and deep green with red or maroon margins.
Flower color
Green; White
Flower form
Spike
Flower detail
The flowers are small, long, narrow, greenish-white spikes. As a houseplant, it rarely flowers.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Jamaica
Play value
Easy to Grow
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Houseplants; Patio
Design feature
Accent
Garden tags
#non-toxic for cats #non-toxic for horses #non-toxic for dogs #interesting leaves #partial shade tolerant #container plant #houseplant #early care #low maintenance #interiorscape
Problems & Resistance
Propagation
Leaf Cutting; Stem Cutting

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.