Chinese Money Plant
Pilea peperomioides
Often called the Pancake Plant, UFO Plant, or Friendship Plant — a tidy upright houseplant from the foothills of southern China, prized for its perfectly round, glossy, peltate leaves on slender stems that bob and sway with the lightest breeze. Famously generous: produces 'pups' (offsets) at the soil line and along its rhizomes, which can be detached and shared, earning the Friendship Plant nickname. Once nearly impossible to find in North America, now widely available since around 2017. Easy to grow but prefers being rotated weekly so it grows symmetrically — leans hard toward its light source.
Quick Facts
Distribution
Indoor (native to Yunnan & Sichuan provinces, China)
Light
Bright, indirect light. Tolerates an hour or two of gentle morning sun; afternoon sun scorches the leaves and turns them pale.
Bloom Time
Rarely indoors; small pinkish-white flowers may appear on mature plants in spring
Soil
Standard well-draining houseplant mix; an aroid blend with extra perlite works well
Water
Allow the top 2–3 cm to dry between waterings. Leaves cup downward when thirsty and flatten back out shortly after watering.
Growing & Cultivation
Propagation
Easiest of any common houseplant: detach a pup from the soil (with its own roots) and pot it up — instant new plant. Stem cuttings also root in water in 2–4 weeks.
Repotting
Every 1–2 years in spring; the rhizome generates pups faster in a slightly snug pot, so don't over-pot.
