1 named cultivar
The Story
Plant Bio
Pilea peperomioides, Chinese money plant, is a clumping erect houseplant from south-central China, eight to twelve inches high and about as wide. Round fleshy dark green leaves four inches across are held on long stems that attach at the centre of the leaf rather than the edge, and small white to pinkish flowers appear on a spike in spring.
The leaves are peltate, meaning the stem joins at the middle of the disc rather than the margin, which is what gives the plant its floating-coin look. It offsets constantly from the base and along the roots, so a settled plant surrounds itself with detachable pups — which is how it spread hand to hand around the world long before nurseries stocked it.
Uses & Benefits:
Essentials
At a Glance
Plant Type
Perennial
Height
8 inches
Width
12 inches
Light
Partial Sun, Shade
Zones
10
Water
Moderate
Humidity
Moderate
Lifespan
Perennial
Native To
South-central China
Toxicity
Non-toxic
Marketplace
Where to Buy
Shipping costs Year-round shipping Free shipping
Planting
How to Grow
- Give it bright indirect light, never harsh direct sun.
- Use free-draining potting compost.
- Water once the top inch has dried.
- Turn the pot regularly; it leans hard toward light.
- Detach pups once they have a few leaves.
- Wipe dust off the leaves occasionally.
Pro Tip
Turn the pot a quarter every week — the leaves chase light harder than most houseplants and a static plant grows permanently lopsided.
Keep It Thriving
Care Guide
Do
- Give it bright indirect light 💡
- Turn the pot weekly 🔄
- Let the top inch dry before watering 💧
- Detach and pot the pups 🌱
Don't
- Put it in harsh direct sun ❌
- Leave it standing in water ❌
- Let it sit in one orientation ❌
Seasonal Care Calendar
| Task | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Divide | ||||||||||||
| Feed |
Watch Out For
Pests & Diseases
Common Pests
Common Diseases
In the Garden
Landscape Uses & Companions
Landscape Uses
Companion Plants
Multiply
Propagation Methods
Good to Know
Common Questions
Chinese Money Plant questions
What zones can Chinese Money Plant grow in?
Chinese Money Plant is hardy in USDA Zone 10. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.
Is Chinese Money Plant deer resistant?
Yes — Chinese Money Plant is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.
When does Chinese Money Plant bloom?
Chinese Money Plant typically blooms in spring, rarely indoors through early summer. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.
Does Chinese Money Plant need full sun?
Chinese Money Plant does best in part shade.
More Pilea to compare
Keep exploring
Explore the genus
Hardy in your zone?
Grow Chinese Money Plant with confidence
See it in a design of your actual yard, get zone-matched care reminders, and track it season by season in your garden journal.