Urticaceae - Botanical Family

Attractive small silvery green leaved creeper with neat growth habbits. Good as a groundcover or in containers, perfect for terrariums or for dishgardens.

Pilea grandifolia, also known as Aluminum Plant, is a native of Jamaica. Grown in USDA Zone 9-11, it is a small perennial plant that usually remains 2-5 ft in height. If planted in the ground, its foliage is often tinged with purple. This ornamental plant thrives in shade to semi-shade and needs regular water.

Aluminum Plant has attractive glossy green leaves which are toothed and puckered at the edges. Its foliage is evergreen and has a full-rounded shape. It also produces small yellowish-white flowers throughout the year.

For those living in colder regions, Pilea grandifolia can be grown in pots. To care for this plant indoors, choose a bright, warm location and make sure the soil is kept moist. Avoid cold drafts or air conditioning, as this can cause damage to the foliage. Make sure to use a well-drained potting medium and supplement with fertilizer once per month.

Annual or short-lived perennial herbs; stems succulent, sometimes slightly woody at base. Good as a groundcover or in containers. Easily propagated from stem cuttings.

Pilea mollis or Moon Valley Pilea is an evergreen, small plant that grows to 2-5 feet tall and as wide, with ornamental foliage. Native to Central and South America, Moon Valley Pilea should be grown in full sun to semi-shade in USDA zone 9-11. It is best planted in humus-rich, lightly acidic soil with regular watering. Water your plant regularly at the same time each day, allowing the soil surface to become slightly dry between waterings. Overwatering periods followed by drought can cause root rot. You should also fertilize Moon Valley Pilea at least once in the spring and once in the summer using an organic, water-soluble fertilizer.

In colder climates, Moon Valley Pilea can be grown in a container and brought inside during the winter months. Although it can tolerate lower light levels indoors, it is best to try and keep the plant in a sunny location indoors. Regular watering and misting with lukewarm water is a must, as is feeding with liquid fertilizer throughout the growling season. To prevent pests and diseases, use an all-natural insecticidal spray or dust in the spring and summer months.

With proper care, Moon Valley Pilea will produce green, round clusters of flowers and bright, shiny leaves that attract attention. With its rounded, quilted foliage, it is a great addition to any garden, whether indoors or outdoors. This small plant can take a moderate amount of pruning, which is beneficial to its overall health, and is a great choice for landscaping or container gardening.

A pretty fast growing ground tropical cover that is also good for hanging baskets, window sills, dish gardens, terrariums, as house plant. Propagation is easy by stem cuttings.

In USDA Zones 9-11, Chinese Money Plant, Pilea peperomioides, reaches an average height of 2-5 feet. A beautiful, small shrub with ornamental foliage, it is perfect for the windowsill garden. Bright light with no direct sun is ideal and semi-shade is best suited for these plants. Taking care to provide a well-draining potting soil and regular waterings, you can watch as the round, peltate leaves fan out into mounds and can easily shape them by rotating once weekly. The delicate foliage requires dusting off every now and then and should also be treated with an all-purpose plant fertilizer in spring and summer. Outdoors, keep away from direct sun but resist bringing indoors when evenings start to get chilly as briefly cooler temperature will give rise to tiny white flowers with pink stems. In colder regions, growing it in a pot is a great idea as it is hardy down to freezing. All the care taken in ensuring the right environment can make your Chinese Money Plant a charm of luck and prosperity!

Pilea is a diverse genus in the nettle family Urticaceae, comprising several hundred species distributed mainly in tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, Africa, and Asia. Members of the genus range from delicate, creeping groundcovers to upright, bushy plants, but most are relatively small and valued for their ornamental foliage rather than flowers. Leaves are typically soft textured and highly variable in shape and surface, from smooth and glossy to deeply textured, quilted, or metallic, which explains the popularity of many species in indoor cultivation. The flowers are tiny and inconspicuous, often greenish, and of little decorative value.

In cultivation, Pilea species are best known as adaptable houseplants that thrive in bright, indirect light and evenly warm conditions. They prefer well drained, organic rich substrates and moderate watering, with the soil allowed to dry slightly between waterings but never remain waterlogged. Many species are sensitive to cold and sudden temperature fluctuations. USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 10-12 for most species, with minimum temperatures typically around 40 45F outside these zones, Pilea is grown as an indoor plant or a protected container plant, where stable warmth and humidity help maintain compact growth and healthy foliage.

The fruit is sweet and juicy, eaten fresh and made into jams. The skin is rough, inedible but easily peeled.

Urera baccifera, commonly known as Ortiga Brava, is a large shrub native to Central and South America. Growing up to 5-10 feet tall, Urera baccifera quickly gets attention with its bright pink flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. This ethnomedical plant is often used for its medicinal purposes, but it also makes a beautiful addition to a garden.

Urera baccifera grows best when it has partial shade, and it is important to regularly check the soil for moisture. If the soil is dry, it is important to give this plant plenty of water. It should not be over-watered, however, as that can cause root rot and other issues. Planting in a pot is an easy way to control the water levels and keep an eye on the soil. If you live in an area with cold winters, it is important to bring the pot indoors or store it in a cool area so that the plant does not freeze.

Urera baccifera is a hardy plant, and it can be grown in almost any climate. It prefers warmer temperatures and is usually grown in USDA Zones 9-11, but it can tolerate temperatures as low as 30F for short period of time. With regular water and care, this beautiful shrub can bring color, beauty, and medicinal properties to your garden.