Pilea peperomioides
Common name: Chinese money plant · Pancake plant · UFO plant
Pilea peperomioides is an evergreen perennial native to the mountains of Yunnan, China. Its round, coin-shaped leaves on long petioles give it a striking sculptural look, and its habit of producing abundant baby plants at the base made it a favorite for sharing among friends.
Care summary
Sun
Bright indirect light
Water
Water when the top few cm of soil dry out
Soil
Well-draining potting mix with perlite
Hardiness
Zones 10–12
Mature height
Up to 30 cm (12 in)
Pet safe
Non-toxic to cats and dogs
Difficulty
Easy
Propagation
The easiest method is separating the baby plantlets (pups) that sprout from the base or stem; cut one off with a bit of root attached and pot it in moist, well-draining mix. Stem cuttings with a few leaves also root in water or soil within a few weeks.
Fun facts
- It spread across Scandinavia in the 1940s after Norwegian missionary Agnar Espegren brought cuttings home from China.
- It is nicknamed the "pass-it-on plant" because it was shared almost entirely as cuttings between friends rather than sold.
- It remained unidentified by Western botanists for decades before being formally described in 1984.
- Offsets, or "pups," sprout from the roots at the base and can be snipped off to start new plants.