Peperomia caperata 'Luna Red'

In Cultivation Since the 1990s

‘Luna Red’ has been in cultivation since at least 1997 and received an RHS Award of Garden Merit in 2002. The cultivar belongs to Peperomia caperata, a species native to southeastern Brazil.

‘Quito’ later arose as a mutation from a plant recorded as ‘Red Luna’, linking this older red cultivar to later breeding.

Care for a rippled Peperomia rosette

• Growth and propagation: Remove old foliage and flower spikes at their bases. Propagate by dividing a full clump or rooting healthy leaf cuttings.
• Temperature and humidity: Keep Peperomia caperata ‘Luna Red’ in steady indoor warmth, especially while the dense rosette and root ball are moist. Average household humidity is adequate when air can move around the leaves.
• Light: Provide bright, indirect light for compact growth and strong red colouring. A little soft sun is suitable after gradual adjustment; avoid prolonged intense sun.
• Water: Water deeply after the upper layer has dried and the pot feels lighter. Allow it to drain fully, and keep pooled water away from the central crown.
• Feeding: Apply a weak balanced feed while the plant is producing new leaves. Pause when growth stops or the substrate remains damp for longer.

When Peperomia caperata ‘Luna Red’ Struggles

• The centre becomes watery and collapses quickly: Stop watering and inspect the crown and fine roots. Remove fully softened tissue and saturated mix, retain a firm rooted section and restart it in a small airy pot. Keep the centre dry while new roots establish.
• Leaves wrinkle despite moist substrate: Inspect the roots instead of watering again. If the root ball is dry, soak it evenly; if roots are damaged, correct the root problem first.
• Corky marks or blistering: Oedema can produce these bumps when wet roots, low light, cool conditions or still air slow water loss. Let more of the mix dry, improve warmth and airflow, and look for unmarked new growth.
• Red colour dulls or leaf stalks lengthen: Give it gradually stronger indirect light. Sudden direct sun can bleach or scorch the surface and will not restore deeper colour.
• Concentric rings, vein clearing or repeated twisting: Inspect the crown and newest leaves for thrips, black specks and feeding scars. If no pest is found and the pattern repeats, keep the foliage dry, improve gentle airflow and remove only leaves with continuing wet or expanding damage.
• Black specks with silvered young growth: Search the crown and flower spikes for thrips. Remove badly damaged leaves and flower spikes, then choose a thrips treatment approved for indoor plants.
• Tiny flies rising from the pot: Check for black-headed fungus-gnat larvae in the moist substrate before linking the flies to plant decline. Reduce surface moisture, monitor adults with sticky traps and treat confirmed larvae with beneficial nematodes or a larval treatment suitable for indoor plants.

Peperomia caperata ‘Luna Red’ is non-toxic to people and pets

• This plant is non-toxic to people, cats and dogs.
• Chewing a large amount can still cause an upset stomach.
• If a large amount is eaten and symptoms continue, contact a veterinarian or medical professional.

How the name Peperomia caperata came about

Peperomia combines Greek peperi, “pepper”, with homoios, “resembling”, and means “pepper-like”. Caperata comes from the Latin caperatus, meaning wrinkled or corrugated, and refers to the deeply folded leaf surface.

Hipólito Ruiz López and José Antonio Pavon established the genus Peperomia in 1794 in Flora Peruvianae et Chilensis Prodromus, page 8.

Truman George Yuncker first described Peperomia caperata in 1958 in Kew Bulletin, volume 12, page 421.