Also known as Friendship Plant · 1 saves
Pilea
Pilea, the genus most gardeners know as friendship plant. We track 3 varieties; the ones most used by real gardeners.
The 3 most-saved Pilea varieties
2 species of Pilea
Each one is a parent of the varieties above.
Track your Pilea in Sow
Save the Pilea you grow and get care reminders timed to your zone.
How to grow Pilea
Whats common across all Pilea varieties in our catalog — drawn from the care records of the 3 most-grown of them.
The Pilea year
- Check for PestsJuly67% of varieties
Check leaf undersides for common houseplant pests like mealybugs.
Do
- Give it bright indirect light 💡
- Turn the pot weekly 🔄
- Let the top inch dry before watering 💧
- Detach and pot the pups 🌱
- Keep soil moist but not soggy 🌱
Avoid
- Put it in harsh direct sun ❌
- Leave it standing in water ❌
- Let it sit in one orientation ❌
- Avoid direct sunlight which can scorch leaves ❌
What goes wrong with Pilea
| Problem | What you'll see | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Spider mites | Fine speckling on the leaves with faint webbing, worst in dry heated air | Raise humidity, rinse the foliage and treat persistent cases with insecticidal soap |
| Fungus gnats | Small dark flies rising from the compost surface when the pot is moved | Let the surface dry between waterings and use yellow sticky traps |
| Spider Mites | Fine webbing on leaves, speckled or discolored foliage | Increase humidity and spray with insecticidal soap |
| Mealybugs | White cottony clusters on stems and leaves | Wipe with alcohol-dipped cotton swab and use neem oil |
| Root rot | Lower leaves yellow and drop while the compost stays wet and heavy | Repot into free-draining compost, cut away soft roots and water less often |
| Root Rot | Wilting, yellowing leaves, soggy soil | Improve drainage, reduce watering, and repot if necessary |
| Powdery mildew | White, powdery fungal patches on the leaf surfaces in crowded, low-airflow environments. | Space plants to improve air circulation and avoid overhead watering. |
Making more Pilea
Offsets
- Wait until a pup has three or four leaves.
- Cut it away below soil level with roots attached.
- Pot into moist compost and keep out of direct sun.
Stem cuttings
- Cut a stem offset from the main trunk.
- Stand it in water until roots form.
- Pot up into free-draining compost.
Pilea questions
How many types of Pilea are there?
The Sow catalog tracks 3 distinct Pilea varieties. The most popular — ranked by 1 real gardeners — are shown first above.
What zones does Pilea grow in?
Across its varieties, Pilea covers USDA Zones 4–10. Individual varieties differ — each plant page lists its exact range, and Sow filters the catalog to your zone automatically.
When does Pilea bloom?
Most Pilea varieties bloom in late spring, spring, rarely indoors, summer. Staggering early, mid, and late varieties extends the genus's season in one bed.
Which Pilea should I choose?
Start from the most-saved varieties above — popularity across thousands of gardens is a strong signal of reliability — then filter by your zone and sun. In the Sow app you can preview any of them in a photo of your actual yard before you buy.