Watermelon Plant- Peperomia argyreia

The leaves of this unique-looking house plant really do look like the rind of a ripe watermelon. The stems are also reminiscent of the fruit-they are a rich red, just like the edible flesh of a ready-to-eat watermelon. I purchased this houseplant as a gift to myself, and I'm very happy I did. I was strolling through the houseplant section of a Davis store and just had to have it!

In my research on how to care for this plant, I discovered it is a bit like Goldilocks, and it likes everything “just right”.  It thrives in soil that is not too wet nor too dry and needs sunlight that is abundant, but not too direct. The temperature of an air-conditioned house is ideal. Interestingly, it prefers to be a bit rootbound rather than in a container with abundant space, so pick a receptacle that is just the right size for the plant right now.

The cream-colored flowers that form during the summer months are simple, straight up and down, and pretty understated. The real attraction of this plant is its foliage. My Peperomia is thriving on my living room coffee table in a cute container I've been trying to fill with just the perfect plant for many years now. This Watermelon plant seems to be the one!

photos by Jennifer DeDora

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