Pilea Peperomioides, the "Chinese money plant"

If you are a fan of minimalist Scandinavian home design or a plant fanatic always on the hunt for your next rare houseplant, you may have heard of Pilea Peperomioides, or the Chinese Money Plant. The glossy, green, disc-shaped leaves of this plant have made it extremely popular for adding the perfect pop of green to any room.

The plant is also known as the Pancake Plant, Lefse Plant, Friendship Plant, and Missionary Plant. It is one of the easiest houseplants to grow and can be easily propagated to share with friends. Until recently, these plants were not widely available commercially — Pilea Peperomioides was long a mystery to horticulturists, who couldn't determine its origin. It was later discovered to be native to the Yunnan province in southern China, brought to Scandinavia by a missionary who shared cuttings with friends and neighbors, which explains its ubiquity in Scandinavian homes.

Care

Chinese Money Plant is an easy plant to care for. Like most favorite indoor houseplants, Pilea prefers bright, indirect light. Too much direct sun will scorch the round leaves.

Water about once a week, or when the soil is nearly dry. Keep your plant in a well-draining pot to avoid letting the roots sit in water.

Propagating

Pilea Peperomioides produces baby plants, or "pups," from the stem or surrounding soil of the mother plant. You can remove these to create a new plant for your collection or to gift to a friend.

Plantlets growing up from the soil can be removed using a sharp, clean knife to cut beneath the soil level so the new plant has some roots attached — then place directly into a new pot to grow.

If the plantlet emerges from the main stem, cut it away with a sharp, clean knife and place in water to develop roots. Once rooted, transfer to a pot to grow.

Browse our plant collection to find a Pilea for your home.