Pilea: Growing and Caring for It

Description and botany

Pilea is primarily native to tropical and subtropical regions of Central and South America, Asia, with some species also originating from Africa. The most well-known species, Pilea peperomioides, comes straight from the mountainous regions of southern China, particularly Yunnan. It grows naturally in these temperate and humid zones, often in the shade of larger trees.

Pilea belongs to the Urticaceae family, which includes stinging nettles, though Pilea itself is completely non-stinging! Some Pilea species even have dentate leaves that slightly resemble nettle leaves (for example, Pilea matsudai).

Pilea peperomioides was discovered in China in the 1940s by a missionary named Agnar Espegren, which is why it’s sometimes called the “Missionary plant”. Agnar Espegren later brought it to Norway and shared it with friends. The Pilea then spread across Europe through exchanges and cuttings among plant enthusiasts.

The Pilea genus includes over 600 species of tropical plants, mostly herbaceous, often grown for their decorative foliage. These species exhibit great diversity, with varied leaf shapes, forms and sizes. Some are prized for their simplicity and ease of care, others for their more unusual or graphic appearance.

Pilea has a bushy, rounded form. Pilea peperomioides typically reaches 20-30cm in height, making it perfect for small spaces like windowsills, shelves or desks.

Its main ornamental feature is undoubtedly its unique foliage! The leaves of Pilea peperomioides are round, almost perfectly circular, smooth and glossy. They’re bright green and borne on long, slender petioles that attach to the centre of the lamina rather than the edge (known as peltate foliage). Leaves can grow up to 10cm in diameter.

This structure gives the plant a highly graphic, unusual appearance, with leaves that seem to float like little flying saucers around the central stem.

Pilea’s round leaves resemble coins, and in China it’s said this plant brings prosperity – hence its nickname “Chinese money plant”. In English, it’s also called the “Pancake plant”!

Pilea peperomioides is the most well-known and cultivated, but there are many other Pilea species distinguished by their foliage size, shape and colour. Pilea peperomioides, Pilea cadierei, Pilea involucrata, Pilea microphylla, Pilea glauca ‘Greyzy’

Other Pilea species offer very different foliage: veined, variegated, dentate or textured. Besides Pilea peperomioides, here are some other ornamental species:

• Pilea cadierei: named for its dark green leaves marbled with silver spots, giving a metallic decorative effect. The ovate, veined leaves form a compact habit. Ideal in pots or hanging baskets, it enjoys good ambient humidity.
• Pilea involucrata : features thick, quilted, highly textured foliage, often dark green with bronze or coppery highlights. Valued for its colour contrasts and compactness. Perfect for terrariums or decorative cache-pots.
• Pilea microphylla : with its tiny bright green leaves densely packed, this species forms a thick mat almost like moss. Its curious name comes from minute flowers that “explode” open to release pollen – hence the nickname “Artillery plant”!
• Pilea glauca : prized for its trailing habit and powdery blue-grey foliage, ideal in hanging displays. It forms cascades of small, soft round leaves, perfect for boho or urban jungle styles.

There are also hybrid varieties bred for aesthetics: variegated leaves, pink veins, miniature habits etc. Examples include Pilea peperomioides ‘White Splash’, ‘Variegata’ or ‘Mojito’ with white-variegated foliage.

Pilea rarely flowers indoors. However, in optimal conditions it may bloom in spring or summer. When flowering occurs, it produces panicles of tiny white, green or pink star-shaped flowers with five petals. The flowering has a very delicate, airy appearance.

Pilea is not hardy: it cannot tolerate cold, let alone frost. Its ideal temperature range is 15°C to 25°C. Below 10°C, the plant may suffer serious damage. This is why it’s grown almost exclusively indoors or in greenhouses in our climates.

Pilea in flower

The different species and varieties

Our Favourite Varieties

Chinese money plant - Pilea peperomioides

This is the most well-known and widely cultivated variety. It's characterised by its round, glossy leaves with a very graphic appearance.

• Hauteur à maturité 50 cm

See the product sheet

Pilea glaucophylla Greyzy - Silver sparkle plant

This variety forms slender red stems with a trailing habit, bearing numerous small rounded leaves in a silvery-grey shade with a slight blue tint.

• Hauteur à maturité 10 cm

See the product sheet

Planting Pilea

Where to place your Pilea?

Pilea loves bright, indirect light. Too much direct sunlight may scorch its delicate leaves, while insufficient light will make the plant leggy, with stems abnormally elongating as they reach for light (etiolation). The ideal spot is near an east or west-facing window, or behind a sheer curtain if the light is too intense. It will thrive in a room with all-day brightness, such as a living room or well-lit kitchen. Avoid cold draughts and direct heat sources which dry out the air.

Position your Pilea in a bright spot, for example near a window, but out of direct sunlight

When to plant Pilea?

Pilea can be potted year-round, as long as indoor temperatures remain stable. However, the ideal time to repot or transfer it to a new container is in spring, between March and May. This is when the plant enters its active growth phase, helping it establish well.

How to plant it?

Choose a pot with drainage holes, essential to prevent waterlogging. A diameter of 10 to 15 cm is sufficient for a young plant. You can gradually move it to slightly larger pots as it grows.

Use a light, well-draining growing medium. For example, create a mix of 2/3 houseplant compost and 1/3 perlite, sand or vermiculite (to lighten the mix). You could also add some activated charcoal or coconut coir to improve aeration.

Here are the steps to properly plant or repot your Pilea:

• Place some of the growing medium in the pot.
• Gently remove the plant from its original pot, being careful not to damage the roots.
• Position the Pilea in the centre of the pot, then fill around it with the growing medium.
• Lightly firm down and water.
• Place the Pilea in a bright spot, out of direct sunlight.
• Only water again when the top layer of compost feels dry.

1. 

   Plant the Pilea in a pot slightly larger than the root ball

How to care for your Pilea?

The Pilea is a relatively easy-care plant, but like all plants, it has its little preferences. Here are the right practices to keep it happy and healthy.

Watering

The Pilea dislikes both prolonged drought and excessive moisture. So finding the right balance is key:

• Spring-summer: water about once a week, when the top layer of compost feels dry to the touch.
• Autumn-winter: reduce watering to every 10 to 15 days, as the plant enters dormancy.

Tip: it’s better to underwater than overwater. Excess moisture risks causing root rot.

Preferably use room-temperature water that is not hard (rainwater or filtered if possible).

Remember to water the Pilea regularly

Light

As mentioned earlier, the Pilea loves soft light. Rotate the pot regularly to prevent it from growing lopsided while reaching for light. Too dark an exposure will result in sparse foliage and an unbalanced habit.

Ambient humidity

The Pilea enjoys moderately humid air, especially in winter when heating dries the air. To compensate, feel free to lightly mist the leaves (not every day). You can also place the pot on a saucer filled with damp clay pebbles (without the pot base touching the water).

You can mist the foliage occasionally, especially if the air is dry

Pruning and cleaning

• When you spot them, remove yellowed or damaged leaves by cutting them at the base of the stem.
• You can also pinch stems to encourage branching.
• Clean the leaves with a soft damp cloth to remove dust (this helps them capture light better).

Repotting

The Pilea grows fast! We recommend repotting every one to two years, in spring. Take the opportunity to partially renew the compost and check the roots’ condition. Each time, place it in a slightly larger pot to accommodate its growth.

Repot the Pilea every one to two years, each time placing it in a pot slightly larger than the previous one

Fertiliser

During the growth period (March to September), you can give it a little liquid fertiliser for houseplants, diluted in the watering water, every 3 to 4 weeks. Stop fertilising in winter.

Diseases and Pests of Pilea

The Pilea is generally robust, but like any houseplant, it can sometimes encounter a few issues, especially if growing conditions are not ideal.

Common diseases

• Root rot: often caused by overwatering or poor drainage. The roots turn black and soft, the leaves yellow then fall.
  Solution: repot the plant in well-draining soil, remove rotten roots and reduce watering.
• Leaf spots: brown or black spots may appear due to excess moisture on foliage or fungus.
  Solution: avoid wetting the leaves, space plants to improve air circulation, and treat with a mild fungicidal if needed.
• Soft or drooping leaves: may indicate water stress, either from lack or excess of water.
  Solution: check soil moisture and adjust watering.

Common parasites

• Mealybugs: they often appear as small white cottony masses at the base of leaves.
  Solution: remove them by hand with a cotton pad soaked in 70% alcohol, or use a natural insecticidal.
• Aphids: these small green or black insects gather on young shoots.
  Solution: spray with soapy water or a black soap treatment.
• Spider mites: present mainly in dry air, they leave fine webs and cause dull foliage.
  Solution: increase ambient humidity, mist regularly and treat with a miticide if needed.

Prevention is better than cure: keep an eye on leaf condition, adjust watering and ventilate the room regularly.

How to propagate Pilea?

The Pilea is particularly prized for its ability to naturally produce young shoots, commonly referred to as “offsets”. It’s one of the easiest plants to propagate, even for beginners. This allows you to share cuttings with loved ones or expand your own collection at minimal cost.

Propagating Pilea by Removing Offsets

Small shoots sometimes appear at the base of the mother plant, often slightly buried in the compost. These can be removed to propagate the plant. In fact, this is the simplest and most common method for obtaining new young plants.

When to remove offsets?

Wait until they’re about 5-10cm tall with several leaves.

How to do it?

• Carefully dig up the plant to access the offsets.
• Separate the offset with some of its roots (if possible).
• Replant the offset in a small pot with light potting mix.
• Water lightly and place the pot in a bright spot, out of direct sunlight.

Establishment is usually quick. You can also keep some offsets in the same pot as the mother plant for a bushier effect.

You can remove the offsets growing at the base of the plant

How to Take Pilea Cuttings?

Propagation by cuttings is less common for Pilea, but possible if you’re pruning your plant.

• Take a healthy stem about 10cm long with 2-3 leaves.
• Place it in water, removing lower leaves to prevent them from sitting in water.
• Change the water every 2-3 days.
• Within 10-15 days, roots should appear.
• Once roots are sufficiently developed, repot in a small container.

Place cuttings in water to root before potting them on

Which plants to pair with Pilea and how to showcase it?

The Pilea pairs particularly well with other houseplants thanks to its rounded, graphic foliage which creates an interesting contrast with more slender or textured forms. An excellent combination is to place it alongside ferns, whose light and delicate fronds highlight the Pilea’s crisp structure. Calatheas, with their large, veined and often variegated leaves, create a very successful play on textures, while sharing the same preferences for gentle light and moderate humidity.

From left to right: Parodia warasii, Pilea peperomioides, Pilea depressa, Aloe vera, Ficus ginseng, Gasteria duval

For a more modern or minimalist look, you can pair the Pilea with succulents like Haworthia or Senecio rowleyanus (commonly called “string of pearls”), which offer a low or trailing habit contrasting with the Pilea’s upright form. Peperomias, especially thick-leaved or veined varieties, also make excellent companions for pots or windowsills. Together, they form a compact, easy-to-maintain mini ecosystem.

The Pilea can also find its place in an urban jungle corner alongside small monstera, philodendrons or pothos, which add volume and height around its more compact silhouette. This arrangement works particularly well on a plant shelf or low furniture illuminated by natural light.

Finally, in an open terrarium or large container, it can accompany miniature plants like fittonias, small-leaved pileas or decorative mosses. The result is a living plant tableau, rich in green hues and varied forms.

With a little creativity, the Pilea becomes a true centrepiece in any plant composition, thanks to its versatility and unique charm.

Parodia depressa, Aloe vera, Gasteria duval and Parodia warasii