8 Popular Pilea Plant Varieties and How to Care for Them

When it comes to houseplants, Pilea plants stand out for their unique shapes, vibrant colors, and low-maintenance nature. Originating from tropical regions, these plants are perfect for indoor environments, where they can thrive with minimal care. Whether you’re a plant novice or a seasoned green thumb, the Pilea plant is an ideal companion. In this post, we’ll dive deep into 8 of the most popular Pilea varieties, offering care tips and insights into their individual characteristics. Plus, we’ll explore the fascinating history of this plant family, giving you all the tools to incorporate one of these beauties into your home.

1. Pilea Peperomioides (Chinese Money Plant)

Several Pilea Plant Peperomioides, commonly called Chinese Money Plants, with their round, coin-shaped leaves growing in red pots.

Perhaps the most recognized Pilea variety, the Chinese Money Plant is known for its round, pancake-shaped leaves that grow on slender stems. Its easy care routine makes it an excellent choice for beginners. All it needs is indirect light, weekly watering, and monthly feeding with indoor plant food. With its charming aesthetic and relatively slow growth, it’s the perfect table or windowsill plant.

Light: Bright, indirect light.
Watering: Once the soil dries out.
Unique Feature: It’s often believed to bring luck and prosperity.

2. Pilea Cadierei (Aluminum Plant)

The Pilea Plant, Cadierei, or Aluminum Plant, with its glossy green and silver foliage displayed against a clean white background.

Native to China and Vietnam, the Aluminum Plant boasts stunning silver markings across its deep green leaves. This Pilea is ideal for those looking to add a little sparkle to their indoor plant collection. To keep it thriving, place it in bright but indirect sunlight, water it regularly, and maintain moderate humidity.

Light: Bright, indirect light.
Watering: Keep the soil slightly moist.
Unique Feature: Silver-splashed foliage.

3. Pilea Depressa (Baby Tears)

The charming Pilea Plant Depressa, commonly referred to as Baby Tears, displayed in a modern concrete pot against a blue background.

With its dainty, small leaves and cascading habit, the Baby Tears Pilea is perfect for hanging baskets or trailing over the edges of shelves. This variety thrives in well-draining soil and humid environments, making it a beautiful addition to bathrooms or kitchens.

Light: Bright, indirect light.
Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy.
Unique Feature: Perfect for hanging baskets.

4. Pilea Mollis (Moon Valley)

A close-up of Pilea Plant Mollis, also known as Moon Valley, showcasing its deeply textured, serrated leaves with a unique contrast of bright green and dark brown veins.

Known for its deep-textured leaves, the Moon Valley Pilea offers a unique visual appeal. The leaves, with their raised veins and bright green edges, look like they belong on another planet. This variety is best suited for moderate light and high humidity, making it an excellent candidate for terrariums or humid indoor environments.

Light: Moderate, indirect light.
Watering: Allow the soil to dry out between watering.
Unique Feature: Dimpled, almost extraterrestrial-looking foliage.

5. Pilea Spruceana (Norfolk Friendship Plant)

A cluster of Pilea Plant Spruceana, known for its metallic-silver and reddish foliage, showing the striking contrast between its green and silver leaves with deep red stems.

The Norfolk Friendship Plant offers stunning dark green foliage with hints of metallic streaks, making it an excellent choice for plant enthusiasts looking to add some color to their collection. This Pilea enjoys moderately damp soil and high humidity, and it’s easy to grow in most indoor environments.

Light: Medium indirect light.
Watering: Keep the soil moderately damp.
Unique Feature: Metallic-colored streaks down the leaves.

6. Pilea Glauca (Silver Sprinkles)

A Pilea Plant Glauca, commonly known as Silver Sprinkles, with its delicate cascading stems filled with tiny, silver-blue leaves, planted in a red pot.

With its tiny, silver-blue leaves and trailing nature, Pilea Glauca adds a touch of elegance to any indoor plant setup. Also known as Gray Baby Tears, it’s perfect for bright, indirect light and thrives in well-draining soil. Regular misting ensures it stays lush and vibrant.

Light: Bright, indirect light.
Watering: Allow the top layer of soil to dry out between waterings.
Unique Feature: Stunning silver-blue trailing leaves.

7. Pilea Involucrata (Friendship Plant)

A vibrant cluster of Pilea Plant Involucrata, or Friendship Plant, with textured green leaves tinged with shades of deep purple.

The Friendship Plant is beloved for its textured, veined leaves and compact growth. It’s well-suited for small spaces like desktops or bookshelves and thrives in medium light conditions. Given its love for humidity, this variety also makes an excellent terrarium plant.

Light: Low to medium indirect light.
Watering: Water when the topsoil is dry.
Unique Feature: Creeping growth pattern with textured leaves.

8. Pilea Microphylla (Artillery Plant)

A detailed close-up of the Pilea Plant Microphylla, or Artillery Plant, showcasing its small, bright green leaves growing densely along slender stems.

With tiny, delicate leaves that form dense clusters, the Artillery Plant gets its name from the way it releases pollen, which resembles tiny explosions. This Pilea variety thrives in bright, indirect light and is relatively easy to care for, needing just occasional watering and moderate humidity.

Light: Bright, indirect light.
Watering: Water when the top inch of soil dries out.
Unique Feature: Unique pollen-releasing feature that looks like mini fireworks.

How to Care for Your Pilea Plants

While each Pilea variety has its specific needs, there are some general care guidelines you can follow to ensure your plant thrives:

Light: Most Pilea plants prefer bright, indirect light. Direct sunlight can scorch their leaves, so be mindful of where you place them.
Watering: Pilea plants like to dry out between waterings, so avoid overwatering, which can lead to root rot.
Humidity: Although Pilea plants can tolerate average household humidity, they tend to thrive in more humid environments. Mist your plants regularly or use a pebble tray to increase humidity levels.
Temperature: Pilea plants do best in temperatures ranging from 60-75°F. Avoid placing them near drafts or heat sources.
Fertilizing: During the growing season (spring and summer), feed your Pilea plant with a balanced, diluted fertilizer once a month.

Propagation

One of the best things about Pilea plants is how easily they propagate. Whether you’re using stem cuttings or plant division, you can quickly grow new Pilea plants to share with friends or expand your collection.

Stem Cutting Method:

Take a cutting from a healthy stem, place it in water or soil, and wait for roots to develop.

Leaf Cutting Method:

For more experienced plant lovers, take a leaf cutting with a portion of the petiole attached and plant it in well-draining soil.

Conclusion

The Pilea plant family is vast, with each variety offering unique characteristics and beauty. Whether you’re drawn to the round, coin-shaped leaves of the Chinese Money Plant or the cascading elegance of Pilea Depressa, there’s a Pilea for everyone. These plants make excellent additions to any home due to their low-maintenance care needs and air-purifying qualities.