Chinese money plant

Fresh air from the Seventies

Having time-travelled straight from the 1970s, the eye-catching Chinese money plant (Pilea peperomioides) has landed on quite a few sideboards already. This remarkable plant is a member of the stinging nettle family, is easy to care for and cares for you in return! No money (Chinese or otherwise) needs to change hands - it purifies the air for free. It’s not the most productive air purifier (the purifying surface is lesser than 10 m2), so really you owe it to yourself to have lots of them around your home. Luckily, it’s so easy to take cuttings from that it’ll readily take over your whole house.

Chinese money plant - Thejoyofplants.co.uk

Colours and shapes

The Chinese money plant can be identified by the flat, round leaves. Shiny, leathery, thick, dark green pancakes (hence the alternative name of pancake plant) balance on long, thin, red stems. They may not be tasty, but they’re definitely a treat for the eye. This unusual plant grows to a height of some 40cm and as it gets older, the stems will start to twist. 

Symbolism

Place a coin in the soil with your Chinese money plant, and it’ll spontaneously start to attract wealth. If you suddenly become very rich, give your plant a real gold pot - it will have earnt it. 

Origin

A Swedish missionary brought in the Chinese money plant to Europe from China in 1946. The plant was growing on the CanShang Mountains in Yunnan province and that’s why it’s also known as the Chinese Missionary Plant.