Pilea (Chinese Money Plant)
Pilea peperomioides
Family Urticaceae
Pilea is the pass-along plant of the decade — perfectly round, coin-shaped leaves hovering on thin stems like tiny green satellites, and a habit of producing so many baby plants that owners run out of friends before they run out of pups to gift.
Safe for cats and dogs, fast in bright indirect light, and small enough for any shelf, it's as easy as stylish houseplants get. Its one quirk: it leans toward the window, always chasing the light. Every collection should start here — or share here.
Bright indirect — rotate weekly or it leans hard
Moderate water
Fast growth
None winter chill
From the print shop
Growing pilea (chinese money plant)? Hang it.
Our Plant Library collection carries pilea (chinese money plant) — Pilea peperomioides, print Nº 368, “Pilea (Chinese Money Plant).”
526 designsfrom $12.99white or black backgroundmatte poster, unframed
Will it thrive where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what pilea (chinese money plant) actually needs.
Hardy inZones 10-12Pilea (Chinese Money Plant) · Common problems
Common pilea (chinese money plant) problems
Pests
2 problems on file
Diseases
1 problem on file
Pilea (Chinese Money Plant) · Growing & propagation
Growing pilea (chinese money plant)
- Light
- Bright indirect
Rotate weekly or it leans hard
- Water
- Moderate
Droops when thirsty, perks in hours
Soil- Well-drained potting mix · pH 6.0 - 7.0
Fertilizer- Monthly dilute feed spring-summer
Pruning- Anytime
Pot up the endless pups that sprout from soil and stems — that's why it's the 'sharing plant'.
Spacing- One per pot
How to plant & propagate pilea (chinese money plant)
- Propagate
- Stem/leaf cuttings, division, or pups
Pilea (Chinese Money Plant) · Calculators & field guides
A little help in the garden.
Pilea (Chinese Money Plant) · Yearly calendar
The pilea (chinese money plant) year, month by month
Jan
PruneJanuary to December
PrunePruneJanuary to December
What each band means
- Prune — shape it now — cuts heal cleanly and structure is visible.
These are the species' typical months — expect them a few weeks earlier in warm zones and later in cold ones. Watch the plant, not just the calendar.
Pilea (Chinese Money Plant) · Ecology & uses
Ecology & uses
Pilea peperomioides
Pilea (Chinese Money Plant) in the garden system
- Moisture
- Facultative / average
Deer- Browsed
Protect young plants
Origin- Introduced
What pilea (chinese money plant) is grown for
✓ Not known to be toxicSafe for pets
Use- Pup-sharing
- Use
- Bright shelves
- Use
- Pet-safe
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
Pilea (Chinese Money Plant) · Varieties & cultivars
Choosing a pilea (chinese money plant) variety
Standard; 'Mojito' (splashed variegation)
Sources & plant identity
Know what you’re growing.
See where the knowledge comes from.
Pilea (Chinese Money Plant)
Pilea peperomioides
The plant, at a glance.
- Botanical name
- Pilea peperomioides
- Plant family
- Urticaceae
- Growth habit
- Houseplant · Perennial
- Origin
- Introduced
- Invasive risk
- Low
Hardiness, size and timing vary with your cultivar, soil and climate.
Rooted in research.
University extension research, brought together with hands-on growing experience at Story Thyme Farms.
for Pilea (Chinese Money Plant)
Research from these sources
Publisher marks identify sources, not sponsorship or endorsement.
Where to buy
Third-party nurseries — not Story Thyme Farms.
Third-party nurseries, not Story Thyme Farms. Prices are theirs.
Story Thyme Farms may earn a small commission from these links, at no cost to you — it never changes what we recommend. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Questions
Pilea (Chinese Money Plant) questions, answered straight.
Is pilea (chinese money plant) safe for kids and pets?
Pilea (Chinese Money Plant) is commonly eaten and isn't considered toxic, but "commonly eaten" isn't a guarantee for any particular person or animal — allergies, quantity, and which part you eat all matter. One caveat on this one: Safe for pets. Never eat a plant you haven't positively identified, and check with a vet before letting pets or livestock graze anything new.
How do you propagate pilea (chinese money plant)?
Stem/leaf cuttings, division, or pups.
Elsewhere
Where pilea (chinese money plant) sits in the library.
Monstera
Golden Pothos
Snake Plant
Heartleaf Philodendron