Scientific Name
Peperomia ferreyrae Yunck.
Common Name(s)
Happy Bean, Pincushion Peperomia
Scientific Classification
Family: Piperaceae
Genus: Peperomia
Etymology
The specific epithet "ferreyrae" (pronounced "feh-RAY-ree-eye") honors Ramón Alejandro Ferreyra Huerta🡕 (1910–2005), a Peruvian botanist.
Origin of Peperomia ferreyrae
Peperomia ferreyrae is native to Peru. It occurs in tropical forests at elevations ranging from 4,920 to 6,630 feet (1,500 to 2,020 m).
Description of Peperomia ferreyrae
Peperomia ferreyrae is a small succulent shrub with erect branches that bear bright green, bean-like leaves with a darker green, translucent window along the upper surface. It can grow up to 12 inches (30 cm) tall. The branches are green with brownish leaf scars and bear leaves mainly in the upper half. The leaves are slender, curved, U-shaped in cross-section, measuring up to 3 inches (7.5 cm) long.
The tiny flowers appear year-round, densely clustered along terminal spikes that can grow up to 14 inches (35 cm) long.
Varieties of Peperomia ferreyrae
- Peperomia ferreyrae var. ferreyrae
- Peperomia ferreyrae var. musifolia
How to Grow and Care for Peperomia ferreyrae
Hardiness: USDA hardiness zones 10a to 11b: from 30°F (-1.1°C) to 50°F (10°C).
Peperomias are not particularly hard plants to grow, and their small size and delicate leaves make them perfect for desktops and dish gardens. They will rarely overtake their neighbors or shade them out. In short, they are perfectly mannered and attractive little plants. The biggest problems are usually related to watering. They like steadily moist soil but can be very sensitive to overwatering. Overwatered Peperomias tend to wilt or have raised, scab-like protrusions on their leaves. Do not be alarmed if your plant loses a few bottom leaves, but a massive leaf drop is usually due to a temperature change or a fertilizer problem. Lastly, Peperomias are susceptible to mealybugs, so keep an eye out for cottony white masses on the stems or undersides of leaves. These plants thrive when slightly pot-bound, so do not overpot them.
Repot plants in spring, especially to refresh the existing soil, but place them either back into the same-size container after root-pruning or into a pot only one size up. The largest Peperomias remain relatively small, so they will never grow into large specimen plants. Most species can be relatively easily propagated from leaf cuttings.
Learn more in "How to Grow and Care for Peperomia."
Links
- Back to genus Peperomia
- Succupedia: Browse succulents by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, Origin, or cacti by Genus
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