Family: Piperaceae

Baby rubberplant is an herbaceous, low growing plant. Valued for the striking foliage, succulent-like leaves are oppositely arranged. Narrow spike-like flowers are insignificant. Many cultivars exist, the foliage ranging in color variegation patterns of greens, yellows, and whites. An epiphytic plant native Florida and the Caribean, Baby rubber plant thrives in low light conditions. The ease of care and ability to grow in the indirect sun makes this a perfect house plant. Overwatering and direct sun are the leading cause of death. It is very resistant to pests. A drought-tolerant plant, The large fleshy, leathery leaves store water. 

The common name baby rubberplant is misleading as the plant is not related to rubber. The genus name Peperomia comes from peperi (translated to pepper) and homoios (translates to resembling). The flowers closely resemble flowers in the Piper genus.  The species name obtusifolia, obtusi (blunt) and folia (leave) translates to blunt-leaved

Plant Uses:

• Container plant
• Indoor plant
• Ornamental

Plant Dangers:

• No dangers

High Risk Traits:

• Grows in tropical climates (native range matches high-risk climate suitability)
  
• Repeatedly introduced outside native range (Taiwan, Poland, Italy, Florida, Norway)
  
• Host for recognized pests/pathogens (e.g., root lesion nematode)
  
• Shade tolerant
  
• Reproduces by vegetative fragmentation (stems root at nodes)
  
• Effective natural enemies present locally (mites, root/stem rots, fungal diseases)

Low Risk Traits:

• Not naturalized, or weedy
  
• No spines, thorns, or burrs
  
• Not allelopathic
  
• Non-toxic to animals and humans
  
• No evidence of prolific seed production (fruit infrequently formed)