Peperomia caperata 'Red Luna' close-up of leaf on white background.

Peperomia caperata 'Red Luna' potted plant in nursery pot on white background.

Piperaceae

Peperomia caperata 'Luna Red'

Emerald Ripple Peperomia

Pet Friendly

Peperomia caperata 'Luna Red' forms a tight clump of small, deeply grooved heart-shaped leaves in rich purplish crimson to dark red. Established plants can send up thin pale flower spikes that stand above the dark foliage.

Read full guide to Peperomia caperata 'Luna Red'

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Baby · XS Pot Ø 6 cm · approx. 12 cm tall Sold out

Variant

Sizes are approximate. Height is measured from the bottom of the pot to the top of the plant; diameter at the widest point.

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Care at a glance

Peperomia caperata 'Luna Red'

Light

Bright indirect • approx. 10,000–20,000 lux

Watering

Water when ~50–70% dry

Substrate

Fine but airy • Moisture-buffered • Balanced • Fine

Temperature

Ideal: 18–26 °C • Avoid below: 15 °C

Humidity

Average 40–50%

Growth habit

Upright herbaceous perennial.

Support

not needed

Growth speed

Average

Cultivated size guide

Height: 20 cm • Spread: 20 cm

Toxicity & safety

Non-toxic

Origin & habitat

Cultivar of Peperomia caperata; species native to southeastern Brazil

Outdoor growing

Outside from 15 °C · sheltered spot

How to read these values

These care values give practical guidance for growing the plant. Adjust care for pot size, substrate, temperature and how quickly the substrate dries.

For more detail, read the full product description or visit our Plant Care Guides.

Light: level and approximate lux at leaf level.
Watering: “% dry” shows how far the substrate should dry before watering again.
Substrate: structure, drainage, moisture retention, base material and particle size.
Temperature: “Ideal” shows the preferred range; “Avoid below” marks the cold-stress threshold.
Humidity: target range; steady conditions usually matter more than exact numbers.

Growth habit: how the plant grows, such as upright, climbing, trailing, clumping or rosette-forming.
Support: whether a stake, pole or trellis is needed, optional or unnecessary.
Growth speed: expected pace under suitable growing conditions; use as a guide, not a promise.

Cultivated size guide: approximate dimensions for an established plant in the stated growing context. Height is measured upwards from the growing surface; foliage height excludes flower stems. Trailing length follows a stem, while foliage drop is the vertical distance from the crown to the lowest leaf tips. Spread is the width of the leafy plant or crown, not an individual leaf. Flowering height includes the flower stems. A container guide applies to pot-grown plants; an in-ground guide applies to plants rooted in the ground. Size also depends on age, conditions, pot space and training.

These figures do not describe the size supplied and are not fixed upper limits.

Toxicity & safety: irritation, toxicity or physical hazards such as spines or bristles.
Origin & habitat: native range, hybrid background or typical habitat where relevant.
Outdoor growing: when a potted indoor plant can be placed outside and what outdoor protection it needs.

Peperomia caperata 'Luna Red'

'Luna Red' keeps its foliage small and closely packed. Mature leaves are heart-shaped and deeply furrowed, with dark purplish-crimson to red surfaces and darker grooves.

The plant stays clump-forming, with new leaves rising from the centre and gradually filling it. Established plants can send up thin pale flower spikes that stand above the dark foliage.

What makes 'Luna Red' distinctive

Colour: Mature foliage is dark purplish-crimson to red.
Leaf size: The compact leaves are typically only a few centimetres long.
Texture: Deep main veins create strong grooves and raised sections across each leaf.
Growth: A tight clump develops from the base.
Flowers: Slender pale spikes may appear above established foliage.

Origin & background

Where the species behind Peperomia caperata 'Luna Red' grows naturally

Peperomia caperata is native to south-eastern Brazil and grows naturally in wet tropical conditions.

Plant care

Indoor care for Peperomia caperata 'Luna Red'

Light: Give it bright indirect light to keep the clump compact. Harsh direct sun can turn the dark leaf surface pale or papery.
Temperature: Keep 'Luna Red' at about 18–26 °C and protect it from temperatures near 15 °C or lower. Keep it in a stable warm position, away from cold draughts, cold glass and large temperature swings.
Humidity: Average indoor humidity is generally sufficient. Use a room humidifier where the air stays very dry, and keep the dense centre dry.
Watering: Wait until the upper part of the mix has dried and the pot feels lighter, then water thoroughly and let it drain completely.
Potting mix: Use an airy mix that holds some moisture, with plenty of perlite, pumice or fine bark for drainage.
Feeding: During new foliage production, apply complete fertiliser at a restrained rate; then ease off during a growth pause.
Repotting: If the old mix has compacted, refresh it. Move to a slightly larger pot when roots have filled the current container.
Propagation: Healthy leaf and stem cuttings can be rooted, and a plant with several rooted clumps can be divided.

Issues & solutions

What can go wrong with 'Luna Red'

The dark leaves wrinkle and lose firmness: Check the substrate first. Water thoroughly if the pot is dry and light; if it is still damp, wait and inspect the roots if the leaves stay soft or wrinkled.
Crimson leaves develop pale dry patches: Intense direct sunlight or heat from glass can cause these patches. Move the pot back and keep the light strong but indirect.
Lower leaf stalks soften and leaves yellow: Check for persistently wet substrate. If roots are dark and mushy, trim only the decayed parts with clean, disinfected tools, discard the rotten material and contaminated old mix, and repot in fresh airy mix. See the root rot guide for recovery guidance.
Fine speckles and delicate webbing appear: Isolate the plant and inspect the undersides and leaf stalk bases for spider mites. Remove as many as possible by careful washing or wiping; use a labelled indoor-ornamental treatment only if needed and repeat only as directed on the label.

Safety

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.

Names & etymology

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.

Plant names, growth habits, natural habitats and indoor care guidance are checked against trusted botanical, habitat and horticultural references before publication.View our plant care resources and references.