Peperomia obtusifolia ‘USA’

Background of Peperomia obtusifolia ‘USA’

‘USA’ is an established variegated form of Peperomia obtusifolia with broad creamy-yellow leaf margins. It has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

The species is native from Florida through tropical America, where it grows on the ground and on trees in wet tropical areas. Its roots often grow through loose organic matter on tree surfaces and around exposed roots.

Growing Peperomia obtusifolia ‘USA’

• Light: Bright indirect light is ideal. It can cope with somewhat lower light, but brighter filtered light keeps growth more compact and the green-and-cream contrast clear.
• Humidity: Normal household humidity is usually enough. In more humid rooms, allow good air movement around the foliage.
• Water: Let the upper 3–5 cm of potting mix dry and check that the pot feels lighter, then water thoroughly and let excess drain.
• Temperature: Keep conditions warm, preferably 18–30 °C. Protect from cold draughts and abrupt temperature changes.
• Potting mix: Use a loose potting mix with bark, perlite or pumice so water can drain freely while the roots still get some moisture.
• Feeding: While fresh leaves are developing, feed lightly with a balanced houseplant fertiliser, following the label. Reduce or pause feeding when growth slows, then resume when new growth picks up again.
• Pruning: Trim leggy stems above a node to encourage side branching and keep the plant compact.
• Repotting: Wait until the roots are clearly filling the pot or the mix has compacted or stopped draining well, then move to the next slightly larger pot.
• Propagation: Take a healthy variegated stem cutting with at least one node.

Problems you may see on ‘USA’

• New growth becomes noticeably greener: Some variation between leaves is normal. If several new leaves stay greener than earlier growth and the stems are also lengthening between leaves, light is likely too weak. Move the plant gradually into brighter indirect light and see how the next new leaves develop. If one shoot keeps producing fully green leaves while the rest of the plant stays variegated, remove that shoot if the fully green growth continues.
• Pale margins turn brown: Strong direct sun is a common cause, especially through glass. If the light is already filtered, check the potting mix. A long dry spell or a build-up of fertiliser salts can also brown the pale margins.
• Leaves yellow from the base upward: Check whether the mix remains wet for many days. Let the mix dry further between waterings and check the roots if yellowing is accompanied by soft stems.
• Foliage hangs limp: Check the potting mix first. If it is dry, water thoroughly and let excess drain. If it remains wet, damaged roots may be unable to take up water. Check the roots. Remove black or mushy roots with a clean, disinfected tool, cut back to firm healthy tissue and discard the rotten material. Repot the healthy roots into fresh, airy potting mix.
• White cottony deposits appear: Check stem joints, leaf bases and undersides for mealybugs. Isolate the plant, remove visible insects and use a houseplant treatment labelled for mealybugs, repeating it at the interval stated on the label.

If you're not sure what is causing the problem, send us clear photos of the whole plant, affected leaves and potting mix. We can help you work out what is happening.

Peperomia obtusifolia ‘USA’ 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.

Why is it called Peperomia obtusifolia?

Peperomia combines Greek peperi, “pepper”, with homoios, “resembling”, and means “pepper-like”. Obtusifolia joins the Latin obtusus, meaning blunt, with folium, meaning leaf.

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

Carl Linnaeus first described it as Piper obtusifolium in 1753 in Species Plantarum, page 30. Albert Gottfried Dietrich later placed it in Peperomia as Peperomia obtusifolia in 1831 in Species Plantarum, sixth edition, volume 1, page 154.