Pilea

( PIE - lee - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

Commonly called Artillery Plant or Chinese Money Plant, his genus of perennial flowering plants includes species that are mostly native to the tropical, subtropical and warm temperate regions of the world. They are evergreen perennial shrubs and subshrubs with unique foliage that commonly grow in shaded forests in damp, loamy soils. Use Pilea as a mass planting or groundcover, to edge pathways. or in containers. They are commonly grown as indoor houseplants or greenhouse specimens in cooler climates.

Pilea Species and Varietals

The genus Pilea includes between 600-715 distinct species, and is a member of the plant family Urticaceae. These tropical plants can be grown outdoors in USDA hardiness zones 10-12. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Pilea cadierei (Aluminum Plant, Watermelon Pilea, 花叶冷水花)
This species is native to China and Vietnam, and is commonly grown as a houseplant. It produces dark green to olive-green leaves with silvery white markings. These plants form subterranean colonies. Flowers are white, and bloom in clusters at stem tips. Individual plants reach a mature size of 6 to 12 inches tall and 6 to 9 inches wide. Cultivars of this species include 'Ellen' (with tight branching and lance-shaped leaves good for indoor cultivation), 'Minima' (to 6-8 inches tall), and 'Variegata' (with cream-white to pale gold variegation on metallic silver and green leaves). This species is considered invasive in Central America, South America, and Florida (United States).

Pilea depressa (Depressed Clearweed, Kiereweed, Baby Tears, Artillery Plant, Gun Powder Plant)
This species is native to the Caribbean and Mexico, and produces a small, trailing plant with tiny green rounded leaves with scalloped edges. Foliage is dense on stems, and these plants are commonly kept as indoor specimens. Individual plants reach up to 1 to 4 inches tall and 1 to 5 feet wide. Good in hanging baskets. This species is considered invasive in south Florida and Hawaii in the United States and regions of the Caribbean.

Pilea fontana (Black-Fruited Clearweed, Lesser Clearweed, Bog Clearweed, Blackfruit Clearweed)
This species of Pilea is native to North America, where it primarily grows along the Rocky Mountains. In its native range, it mostly inhabits moist woodlands and floodplains. Flowers produced by this species are cream to white, and leaves are elongated, glossy, and green. These plants can reach up to 2.5 feet tall when mature.

Pilea glaucophylla (Grey Artillery Plant, Silver-Leaved Artillery Plant, Silver Sprinkles Pilea, Grey Baby Tears, Red Stem Tears)
This species is a commonly grown houseplant, and produces flat, rounded leaves with pointed tips. It can be used as a creeping groundcover plant in very protected areas, or kept indoors as a houseplant. These plants have a trailing habit, spilling over the sides of hanging baskets and containers. Foliage is light grey-green. They can reach up to 4 inches tall and stems can extend to 2 feet long.

Pilea involucrata (Friendship Plant)
This Central and South American native plant forms a trailing bush with dark green, wrinkled foliage that often has dark purple to maroon centers. In summertime, tiny yellow to cream-colored flowers bloom in small clusters. Friendship Plants reach up to 6-12 inches tall and just as wide when mature. Cultivars include 'Moon Valley' (pictured, with heavily cratered bright chartreuse and apple green foliage with bronze veins), 'Norfolk' (with elongated leaves with green to bronze coloration), and 'Pan Am' (mounding habit with bronzed leaves with light striping, good for terrariums).

Pilea microphylla (Angeloweed, Artillery Plant, Joypowder Plant, Brilhantina, Frescura, Artillery Fern)
This species, native to southern North America, Central America, and South America, produces a groundcover-type plant with tiny light green leaves and succulent stems. These plants can reach about a foot tall and twice as wide at maturity. Flowers are cream colored and insignificant. This species is considered highly invasive in Hawai'i, Australia, Florida, China, Japan, Guam, and Fiji.

Pilea mollis (Moon Valley Pilea, Friendship Plant)
This species of Pilea is native to Central and South America, and is often grown as an indoor ornamental plant. Highly textured leaves are commonly green with purple-maroon veining. These plants are similar to those in species Pilea involucrata, but have less plump foliage.

Pilea nummulariifolia (Creeping Charlie, Creeping Pilea, Swedish Ivory)
Creeping Charlie is native to the Caribbean and northern South America. These plants are creeping spreaders that have wrinkled, green glossy foliage. Individual plants can reach up to 1 to 4 inches tall with trailing stems to 3 feet or more. Stems are hairy and will root where they touch soil. These plants are considered invasive weeds in Hawai'i, Micronesia and Bermuda.

Pilea peperomioides (UFO Plant, Chinese Money Plant, Pancake Plant, Lefse Plant, Missionary Plant, Coin Plant)
This interesting species is commonly grown as an indoor houseplant, and produces shiny dark green glossy leaves that are circular. The specific epithet peperomoides means 'like Peperomia', referring to the similar foliage of Peperomia plants. As young plants, leaf stems sprout from a central point, and as the plant increases in height, more stems form along the main trunk. Chinese Money Plants can reach up to 8 to 12 inches tall and wide when mature and grown indoors. These plants are considered endangered in their natural habitat in southern China, but are commonly cultivated elsewhere. Cultivars are listed and described below:

'Mojito'
With dark green foliage marbled with white to silver flecks and patches.

'Sugar'
With irregular-edged green leaves speckled with fine white dots.

'White Splash'
Dark green foliage with white to silver flecks and patches.

Pilea pumila (Clearweed, Canadian Clearweed, Coolwort, Richweed, Greenfruit Clearweed)
This species is native to Asia and Eastern North America, where it is broadly distributed and commonly categorized as a weed. These plants easily colonize disturbed areas of soil. Flowers bloom in midsummer through early autumn and are tiny and green-yellow. Stems are translucent.

Pilea repens (Black Leaf Pilea, Bronze Pilea, Creeping Pilea, Panamiga)
These plants are cultivated as terrarium plants or indoor specimens, and leaves are dark green to dark purple/black in color. These plants are native to the West Indies, and are considered to be rare. Individual plants reach up to 6 to 12 inches tall and 6 to 9 inches wide at maturity. This species is considered invasive in the Pacific Islands, the Caribbean, and Central America.

Pilea serpyllacea (Gunpowder Plant, Artillery Plant, Thyme Rockweed)
This tropical houseplant species is native to Central and South America, and produces very small green leaves. Flowers are tiny and white. Plant stems are burgundy in color. The overall look of this plant is of a cluster of tiny green bubbles, making it a great choice for a source of contrasting foliage. It reaches up to 7-18 inches tall and 3 to 6 inches wide. Cultivars include 'Globosa' (pictured, with tiny, spherical bead-like green leaves on reddish stems) and 'Stoplight Pilea' (with thicker branches and a more upright growth habit). This species is invasive in Hawai'i and the Galapagos Islands.

Pilea spruceana (Silver Tree, Norfolk Friendship Plant, Silver Tree Pilea, Aluminum Plant)
This species of Pilea is native to tropical rainforest areas in Central and South America. It is cultivated for its decorative foliage, which is dark green, textured, and accented with white to silver stripes. Undersides of leaves are red to maroon-purple. Reaches 1 foot tall and 1.5 feet wide at maturity. Cultivars of this species include 'Silver Tree' (with deep chocolate leaves with bright silver markings), and 'Chocolate' (compact with narrow serrated chocolate colored leaves).

Pilea trianthemoides (Artillery Plant)
This species is native to the state of Florida and the Caribbean, and grows in moist thickets. These plants have an intricate branching structure, and flower year-round reaching up to just under 8 inches tall at maturity. They have the look of miniature ferns, and are considered invasive in Hawai'i, South Carolina and Georgia in the United States, Australia, the Galapagos Islands, Japan, India, the Philippines, Singapore, Guam, Fiji, Palau, Tonga, and the Marshall Islands.

Caring for Pilea

Pilea, or Artillery Plant, can be grown outdoors in tropical or subtropical zones, and is cultivated as an indoor plant or greenhouse plant elsewhere. In tropical zones where they can be grown outdoors, they do well in bright, indirect light or dappled shade in a space that keeps a relatively high humidity. Keep them away from cool drafts or wind exposure. Pilea should be in a space that stays between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and they can struggle if temperatures change more than 10 degrees at a time. Ensure that soil is well-draining, rich in nutrients, and has a pH of between 6.0 and 6.5 (slightly acidic). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings as they establish themselves in their new home. At maturity, these plants appreciate consistently moist, but not soggy, soil. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. These plants are not heavy feeders, and this should be sufficient to provide the necessary nutrients for the active growing season. Pruning is simple; remove any damaged, diseased, or dead foliage at any time during the growing season. Pileas are long-lived perennial plants, and have a lifespan of decades in the garden before they need to be replaced.

Caring for Pilea Indoors
Plant Artillery Plant in a pot that is at least two inches larger than its nursery pot. Ensure that the pot gets good drainage before planting. Fill the bottom with potting mix amended with plenty of perlite, repot the plant ensuring that the root ball stays about two inches below the rim of the container, and then fill in around the sides with more soil. Pack down soil gently as you fill. Water new plantings regularly as they establish themselves in their new home. At maturity, these plants appreciate consistent irrigation; as a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top inch or two of soil feels dry to the touch. Waterings can be lessened when plants go dormant during winter. Place the pot in a place that gets bright, indirect light.

Take care not to expose these plants to any direct sunlight, as it will sunburn leaves. The ideal exposure is in a north or east-facing window. Ensure that these plants are in a protected area that is free from cool drafts and dry air. Their ideal temperature range is between 65 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit. They also like a higher humidity level; they do well in bathrooms or when planted in pots on pebble trays that stay filled with water. In situations with particularly dry air, use a humidifier or mist plants manually a few times a day. Pileas do well in kitchens and bathrooms, due to the humidity and higher heat in these environments.

Propagation

The best way to propagate a Pilea plant is through separation of offsets from the parent plant, also called division. these plants can be propagated via seed, as well, though not all plants will produce viable seed, and most indoor-grown Pilea will not bloom. To propagate your Pilea plant, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Pilea by Division
The easiest way to propagate an Artillery Plant is by removing offsets and replanting them. The offsets will come out of the ground easily with a hand shovel when they are young, so make sure to catch them when they are relatively small. To propagate by offset, you'll need a clean trowel and knife and a pot filled with a 50/50 mix of potting soil and perlite. Once you've gathered your materials, follow these steps:

Loosen the soil around the bottom of the plant where the offset has formed and locate the root that is connecting it to the parent plant. Cut the root with a sharp trowel. Take care to not cut off any of the other roots that are coming out of the offset.
Gently dig up the offset, keeping as many roots attached as possible and plant in the pot filled with potting mix. Lightly moisten the soil, ensuring that adequate drainage is occurring. Place the container in an area that receives bright light and stays relatively warm.
Water every time the top inch or two of soil dry out. After a few weeks of this watering schedule, the offset should be ready to be replanted outdoors in its permanent home.

Propagating Pilea by Seed
After flowers have faded, seed pods will form in their place. The pods will mature, turn brown and dry, and begin to split open when seeds are ready to be released. At this time, remove the flowering stem from the plant and harvest the seeds, placing them in an airtight storage container in a cool, dark, dry place until ready to work with them.

To increase germination rates, seeds can be scarified and pre-soaked. Nick the seed coats with a sharp knife and then place the seeds in a bowl filled with lukewarm water. Leave seeds in water for about 24 hours to soften the seed coat, and then sow. Gather your materials and fill your pot with a 50/50 mix of potting soil and perlite. Smooth out the top without pressing down too much. Place the seeds on top of the soil and cover them with a thin layer of more gritty sand or potting mix.
Water your seeds, being careful to not disturb their placement. Keep the seeds moist but not wet as they germinate, which should happen between a few weeks and a few months. Your pot or tray should be in an area that receives bright, indirect light. It is important to attempt to grow more than a few seeds, as it is likely that not all seeds will germinate successfully. After most of the seeds have sprouted, increase ventilation and provide seedlings with good light, but not direct sun. About five weeks after germination, cut watering to about once a week, allowing the soil to dry out in between waterings. Do not provide water if the soil is still moist.
The seedling can be planted out into the garden once it has reached 4-6 inches tall and has a well-formed root system. Harden off plants before installing them in the landscape to avoid transplant shock.

Problems and Pests

Certain Pilea species are considered invasive in some regions; see the species descriptions above for more information. Check with local authorities before planting. Pilea plants are susceptible to the following issues and pests: