String of Turtles ​(Peperomia prostrata )

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is home to many animals, and we also cultivate plants from those animals’ habitats. You may see some of these plants in the animals” habitats or you can see them in our Victorian Greenhouse. Many of the plants are endangered, just like the animals.

DESCRIPTION: This plant is a compact succulent with slender trailing stems that bear disc-like, dark green to purplish leaves with a beautiful pattern of lighter markings along the veins, resembling turtle backs. The stems slowly grow around 12 inches long, forming a thick mat that will cascade over the sides of the pot it is planted in. Leaves are slightly succulent and up to 0.5 inches in diameter.The upright, slender, tail-like spikes of tiny brown flowers appear from spring to summer.
RANGE: Native to Ecuador.

HABITAT:  It occurs as an epiphyte on trees or fallen logs in the rainforests.

Photo: World of Succulents