winged peperomia
Peperomia alata Ruiz & Pav.
The wings of winged peperomia are extensions of the leaf bases running down the stem. Their prominence varies, and Florida specimens can have much less obvious wings than plants elsewhere. Although modest in size, this perennial occupies more than the forest floor: Costa Rican collections document it growing on trunks and vines, including high in a host tree. Flora of North America: Peperomia alataMissouri Botanical Garden: Costa Rican Peperomia alata specimens
Botanical name
Peperomia alata is an accepted species in Piperaceae, the pepper family. Kew: Peperomia alata
Recognizing the plant
Plants are erect or reclining, generally 10–30 cm tall, with rhizomes and little branching. Smooth leaves alternate along the stem and have three to five veins arising near the base. Blades are elliptic to lance-shaped, commonly 5–13 cm long. Slender, densely flowered spikes terminate the shoots, sometimes accompanied by spikes from lower leaf axils. Their tiny, stalkless fruits are rounded and minutely warty, with a very short beak. Flora of North America: Peperomia alata
Bloom window
Florida
The Flora of North America records flowering throughout the year in its Florida treatment. Flora of North America: Peperomia alata
Native range
The species is native across tropical and subtropical America, including the Caribbean and parts of Mexico, Central America and South America. In Florida it is sparsely documented in low-elevation swamps, particularly in Collier County. Kew: Peperomia alataFlora of North America: Peperomia alata
Botanical sources
- Kew: Peperomia alata
- Flora of North America: Peperomia alata
- Missouri Botanical Garden: Costa Rican Peperomia alata specimens
Reviewed 2026-10-11. Seasonal development varies with location and growing conditions.