Pilea's perfectly round, coin-shaped leaves radiate out from a central stem like a cheerful little satellite dish, and its habit of sprouting easy-to-share "pups" from the soil has made it a favorite plant to pass along to friends.
Native to southern China, pilea (nicknamed the "Chinese money plant" or "pancake plant") became a social-media houseplant sensation for its graphic, minimalist look, and it remains a compact, easy-care favorite for bright windowsills.
Pilea wants bright, indirect light — rotating the pot every week or so keeps its leaves growing evenly rather than reaching all toward one light source. Water when the top inch of soil is dry, and pot up the small plantlets ("pups") it produces at the base to share or grow into new plants.
Like jade plant, pilea's round, coin-shaped leaves have earned it a reputation as a symbol of good fortune and prosperity, giving rise to its popular nickname, the Chinese money plant.
