Peperomia arifolia

Peperomia arifolia is a houseplant appreciated for its round, thick and glossy foliage and its compact habit. More subdued than variegated foliage, it has an elegant and contemporary presence that will be appreciated in a bright living room, an office or a well-lit bedroom. This species also does well in a light kitchen or on a shelf near a filtered window.

Peperomia arifolia belongs to the Piperaceae family. This botanical species is native to South America; its natural distribution extends from Bolivia to Brazil, down to Paraguay and northern Argentina. In the wild, it is found on rocks or well-drained soils, in tropical environments with a marked dry season, in open forest, at forest edges or in more open formations. It has several botanical synonyms, including Piper arifolium, Peperomia arifolia var. epeltata, Peperomia arifolioides and Peperomia misionensis. It is a slow-growing perennial that forms a small upright clump. Indoors, it reaches 20 to 35 cm in height and 20 to 30 cm in width, sometimes a little more with age, depending on the container volume. Its short, fleshy and smooth stems bear almost round to oval, slightly pointed, 5 to 9 cm wide, thick, smooth and glossy leaves, in a clear green to deep green. The petiole grows from under the leaf blade, near the base, giving the leaf a recognisable, almost peltate appearance.
The small flowers appear in solitary, fine upright spikes which can approach 10 cm in length; the fruits are small ovoid berries, but they are rarely observed in pots. 
It is not considered toxic to dogs and cats.

Indoors, place your Peperomia arifolia in bright light without direct sun, in a temperate room around 18 to 25 °C, away from draughts, in a slightly humid ambient atmosphere. It is a good plant for beginners; its main sensitivity concerns excess water and cold. It particularly enjoys the living room, office, bedroom or kitchen.

Place Peperomia arifolia in a matte ceramic pot, on a small piece of furniture, where its round, glossy leaves can be observed up close. It pairs well with Pilea peperomioides, Aglaonema ‘Siam Aurora’, Philodendron ‘Birkin Ribbon’ and Peperomia caperata ‘Luna’. In a bright room, this arrangement creates a calm, detailed and very contemporary plant display.