Referred to generally as peperomia, this cute native succulent is part of the Pepper family. Yes, you can eat the seeds and they do taste like pepper. In the wild, peperomia grow among the forest floor, so they prefer bright shade and moist conditions. Peperomia also grows happily as an epiphyte, or on top of other plants, and is often spotted on rotting logs, hapu’u trunks, or ohia stumps.

‘Ala’ala wai nui was used medicinally, usually in combination with other Hawaiian plants. The juice of the leaf was used to treat skin diseases, burns, and eye infections. This plant was also used in kapa cloth dyeing, where Hawaiians would produce a grey-green dye from burnt leaves or stems. This peperomia is referred to as kāne, or man, as to distinguish it from another plant called ‘ala’ala wai nui wahine (in the Plectranthus genus) by the Hawaiians.

Keep in bright shade, direct sun should be minimal or none. Keep well-watered and allow for proper drainage. As she gets bigger, she is likely to expand by new shoots. These shoots can be clipped and placed in water for root sprouting, or simply allow the plant space with room to spread, however she is not a ground-cover. This plant is generally pest resistant.