Is a Begonia a Peperomia?

Begonias, pictured here, look similar to peperomias, but they come from different botanical families.

Peperomias and begonias are quite similar in appearance. They are both tropical, grow in the wild in South America, and both are used as common houseplants and bedding plants. Though similar, they actually come from different plant families.

Peperomia

Peperomia is a tropical perennial -- some succulent, some not -- with almost 1,500 species growing mainly in South America. The small plant from the Piperaceae family of plants has many unique appearances, with long and stringy stems or thick fleshy stems. Like begonias, their leaves can be solid green, striped, marbled or bordered, notes Botany website. In the wild, they grow on rotten logs.

Begonias

Begonias, common houseplants and summer bedding plants, are from the plant family Begoniaceaa. They grow wild in South and Central America and in India.

Growing as Houseplants

Varieties of peperomia that are common as houseplants and bedding plants include the P. capreata, also known as Emerald Ripples; glabella, commonly known as Wax Privet; and obtusifolia variegate, which goes by the name Variegated Baby Rubber Plant in houseplant nurseries.

The Merry Christmas begonia and the tuberous begonia are familiar in summer flower beds, window boxes and on windowsills during cooler months.

References

• Botany: Peperomia - Baby Rubber Plant, Emerald Ripple, Wax Privet
• Botany: Begonia