Baby rubber plant (Peperomia obtusifolia) is a flowering plant that belongs to the pepper family Piperaceae. Note that peppers like chilies and bell peppers don’t belong to the pepper family but rather the nightshade family Solanaceae.
Native to Mexico, Florida, and the Caribbean, this charming succulent houseplant boasts of the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. You will find variegated and plain leaf cultivars.
Cat lovers should know that baby rubber plant, pepper face, or American rubber plant is non-toxic to cats. Therefore, it is a perfect houseplant to have, especially for those with cats that tend to nibble greeneries from time to time.
You mustn’t confuse baby rubber plant with Ficus benjamina, which has other common names that include weeping fig, Indian rubber plant. Ficus benjamina is toxic to cats, dogs, and horses since it has a proteolytic enzyme (ficin) and psoralen (ficusin).
Why should you buy it? There are many reasons. The rubber plant is disease resistant and easy to grow can as it doesn’t need much care, but you need to ensure the temperature isn’t below 15 °C (59 °F) and the humidity is high. Also, ensure it gets enough light if you want the beautiful leathery leaves beautiful with intense color. However, avoid direct sunlight since it will cause discoloration.
Why not give this plant a shot? We thought you might like the Peperomia Obtusifolia – 4” from California Tropicals or the variegated Pacific Tropicals &Succulents Peperomia Obtusifolia Variegata-Live Indoor Plant-Ships in 4-inch Grow Pot-Homegrown.
Besides baby rubber plant, there are many other cat-safe plants you can have that include:
- African violets
- Air plant
- American baby plant
- Blue Echeveria
- Boston ferns
- Calathea
- Christmas cactus
- Lipstick plants
- Moth orchid
- True palms like parlor, ponytail, bamboo, and areca palms
- Spider plant
- Purple waffle plant
- Bamboo
- Variegated wax plant
Unless you are willing to grow them in a terrarium that your cats cannot access, there are some houseplants you need to avoid if you have cats, such as:
- Aloe vera
- Monstera Deliciosa
- Pothos
- Sago palms
- English ivy
- Dumb cane
- Corn plant
- Lilies
- Elephant ears
- Amaryllis
- Azaleas
- Chrysanthemum
- Daffodils
- Snake plants
- Tulips