# Chinese money plant (Pilea peperomioides)

Canonical: https://plantguide.ae/plants/chinese-money-plant · Updated: 2026-10-07
Source: Plant Guide (https://plantguide.ae/plants/chinese-money-plant)

Chinese money plant · also called Missionary plant, Pancake plant, UFO plant  
indoor · exotic · family Urticaceae · grows 0.15–0.4 m tall, 0.15–0.4 m wide · fast growth  
part shade · moderate water need  
Ratings for Dubai (1–5, 5 is best): heat 1 · salt 1 · drought 2 · shade 3 · ease of care 3  
Sow or plant: Feb–Apr, Oct–Nov  
Uses: indoor, container

A small, round-leaved desk plant that sends up pups you can pot and share. It wants bright, indirect light, a quarter turn at every watering and no hot glass, and is listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs.

## About

Meet the Chinese money plant, a small plant with flat, round, coin-shaped leaves held out on long thin stalks like tiny parasols. It comes from southwestern China, and the RHS calls it the missionary plant. In a pot it forms a neat dome of leaves on a short stem, and it looks equally at home on a desk, a bookshelf or a bedside table.

It is a sharing plant. The RHS says it readily sends up offsets, or baby plants, around its base, and that you can detach them when they are large enough and pot them up on their own. Individual leaves will also root in water or moist compost. One healthy plant can fill a shelf, or become a gift for a neighbour, without ever being bought a second time.

In a Dubai flat the thing to watch is the light. It wants bright but indirect light: tinted glass or a dim corner gives it less, and it stretches, while a hot west or south sill is too much. Turn the pot a quarter turn at each watering, as the RHS advises, and the leaves stay level instead of leaning toward the window.

Chinese money plant (*Pilea peperomioides*) is an evergreen perennial, 10 to 50 cm tall according to the RHS, with fleshy, rounded, mid-green leaves to 10 cm long on long stalks. It becomes woody at the base over time and, according to NC State, rarely flowers indoors. NC State rates its growth as rapid.

Light is the key. The RHS recommends bright but indirect light near a north-, east- or west-facing window, and says that in a south-facing room it should be set back from the glass, especially in summer. NC State says leggy growth means inadequate light. In Dubai, a plant behind tinted glass or far from the window gets less light and will stretch toward it, while a hot west sill is too much.

Water once the top few centimetres of compost start to dry out, discard any water left in the saucer, and avoid wetting the foliage, since NC State says it can cause leaf spots. It tolerates the humidity of an average home, so dry AC air is less of a problem than draughts: NC State says to avoid cold drafts and heat sources. Feed every month or two from April to September, and repot every two years in spring. Watch for spider mites, mealybugs, fungus gnats and scale.

## Indoors in Dubai

- **Light:** grows well in medium–bright indirect light. Bright, indirect light: near an east- or north-facing window, or set back from south and west glass in summer (RHS). Too little light makes it leggy, and hot sun scorches it.
- **Dry air and air conditioning:** tolerance 3 out of 5 (1 = needs humidity help, 5 = indifferent). It tolerates average home humidity (NC State) but dislikes cold drafts and heat sources. Keep it off the vent line and away from hot glass, and wipe the leaves rather than misting.
- **Pets:** pet-safe: not toxic to cats or dogs on the ASPCA list.
- **Size:** tabletop.
- **Rooms:** home office, living room, bedroom, kitchen, hallway.
- **Finding it in Dubai:** specialist: look in specialist plant shops and larger garden centres.
- **Outdoors:** never: keep it indoors all year.

## Through the year

Chinese money plant keeps its leaves all year, so its calendar is about pace and light. From March to October, it makes steady new leaves and pups, and the RHS suggests feeding every month or two from April to September. Through June to September it needs to stay back from hot west and south glass. From December to February growth slows, so water less, and keep it away from cold glass and the vent line at night. The months to buy and pot up are October to November and February to April, and spring is when to detach pups and repot.

| When | What | Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Feb–Apr, Oct–Nov | Plant: Buy and pot up | Spring is also the time to detach pups and repot. |
| Mar–Oct | New growth: New leaves and pups | NC State says propagation by offsets works in spring and early summer. |
| Apr–Sep | Feed: Feed monthly or every other month | Balanced liquid fertiliser, as the RHS suggests, April to September. |
| Jun–Sep | Heat stress: Keep back from hot glass | Set it back from south and west windows. Direct sun scorches the leaves. |
| Apr–Oct | Pest watch: Check for mites and mealybugs | Look under the leaves. Fungus gnats appear if the compost stays wet. |
| Dec–Feb | Dormant: Water less | Growth slows. Keep it warm and away from cold glass. |

## Care in Dubai

- **Watering in summer:** Water once the top few centimetres of compost start to dry out; check with a finger or by lifting the pot. Discard any water left in the saucer, and avoid wetting the leaves.
- **Watering in winter:** Water less from December to February, as growth slows. Overwatering leads to root rot.
- **Soil:** A moist but well-drained mix: peat-free multi-purpose compost with extra perlite. NC State suggests a well-draining loam or sandy mix, and the RHS a peat-free multi-purpose compost.
- **Feeding:** Feed every month or two from April to September with a balanced liquid fertiliser, and avoid overfeeding (RHS). Every four to six months, flush the pot with at least twice its volume of plain water to wash out salts.
- **Pruning:** No regular pruning. Remove dead or yellowing lower leaves, and detach pups at the base with a clean knife once they have a few leaves and roots. Turn the pot a quarter at every watering.
- **Planting:** Repot every two years in spring when roots are crowded, into a pot only about 2 cm larger (RHS). Pups and leaf cuttings root in water or moist compost. Buy and pot up in October to November or February to April.
- **Pests and problems:** Spider mites; Mealybugs; Fungus gnats; Scale insects
- **Toxicity:** Listed by the ASPCA among its non-toxic succulents (Chinese money plant, Pilea peperomioides), and NC State describes it as safe for pets and children. The ASPCA has no separate species page for it. Any plant can upset a pet's stomach if eaten in quantity, so watch a chewer. Do not confuse it with jade plant, which the ASPCA lists as toxic and which is sometimes also called money plant.

## Good and bad

**Pros**
- Compact, with distinctive round leaves, for a desk or shelf
- Listed by the ASPCA among non-toxic succulents
- Sends up pups you can pot up and share
- Tolerates average home humidity (NC State)
- Fast growth (NC State)

**Cons**
- Leans and stretches toward the window unless you turn the pot
- Leggy in low light, so a dim corner or tinted glass is poor
- Scorches at hot south or west glass in summer
- Dislikes cold drafts, so keep it off the AC vent line

## Common mistakes

- Putting it on a hot south or west sill. The RHS says to set it back from south-facing windows, especially in summer, so it is not in direct sunshine.
- Never turning the pot. The RHS advises a quarter turn at every watering, otherwise it leans toward the light and grows lopsided.
- Keeping it in a dim corner or behind heavy tint. NC State says leggy growth results from inadequate light.
- Leaving water in the saucer or watering on a calendar. The RHS says overwatering leads to root rot, and NC State warns of the same.
- Misting it or wetting the leaves. NC State says wetting the foliage can cause leaf spots, so wipe off dust instead.

## Good to know

- The ASPCA lists Chinese money plant (*Pilea peperomioides*) among its non-toxic succulents, and NC State describes it as safe for pets and children. The ASPCA has no separate species page for it, so the article listing is the reference.
- The word 'money' is used for several unrelated plants. The ASPCA notes that jade plant is also called money plant or money tree, and [Money tree](https://plantguide.ae/plants/money-tree.md) is a different plant again, so check the botanical name on the label.
- It spreads by offsets, which the RHS says to detach once large enough and pot up. Individual leaves also root in water or moist compost.
- Dubai prices checked on 7 October 2026: from AED 79 for a 20 to 30 cm plant at Plantsworld. Stock comes and goes.

## Using it in a garden

Roles: Desk or shelf accent, Bright shelf plant for a home office, Pet-safe plant for a bedroom, Plant to share with friends

Chinese money plant suits a home office desk, a bookshelf or a bedside table in a room that gets bright, indirect light: near an east- or north-facing window, or set back from a south or west one. Give it its own spot, since turning the pot a quarter each watering keeps it even, and group the pups in a row of small pots for a shelf display. Keep it out of the line of an AC vent, since NC State says to avoid cold drafts and heat sources.

- [Peperomia](https://plantguide.ae/plants/peperomia.md): Peperomia's glossy, rounded leaves echo the Chinese money plant's shape on the same desk, and both are listed by the ASPCA as non-toxic.
- [Parlour palm](https://plantguide.ae/plants/parlour-palm.md): Parlour palm adds fine, upright fronds above the flat round leaves, and both are listed as non-toxic.
- [Pothos](https://plantguide.ae/plants/pothos.md): Trailing pothos adds a long, soft line next to the compact dome of the Chinese money plant, though pothos is toxic to pets.

## FAQ

**Is Chinese money plant safe for cats and dogs?**  
The ASPCA lists it among its non-toxic succulents, and NC State describes it as safe for pets and children. Chewing any plant can still cause mild stomach upset, and do not confuse it with jade plant, which is toxic and is sometimes also called money plant.

**Why is my Chinese money plant leaning and getting leggy?**  
Leggy growth results from inadequate light, according to NC State, and it leans toward the window. Move it somewhere brighter, but not into hot direct sun, and turn the pot a quarter at every watering, as the RHS advises.

**How often should I water a Chinese money plant?**  
Water once the top few centimetres of compost start to dry out, according to the RHS, and discard any water left in the saucer. Check with a finger or by lifting the pot, and water less in winter.

**How do I propagate a Chinese money plant?**  
Detach the pups, or offsets, that grow around the base once they are large enough and pot them up on their own. The RHS says individual leaves will also root in water or moist compost. Spring and early summer are the best months, according to NC State.

**Can a Chinese money plant live in an air-conditioned room?**  
Yes, as long as it is out of the direct airflow. NC State says it tolerates the humidity of an average home, and it dislikes cold drafts and heat sources. Keep it off the vent line and away from hot glass.

**Why do the leaves on my Chinese money plant have brown spots?**  
Keep it set back from hot windows, since the RHS advises keeping it out of direct sunshine. NC State says wetting the foliage can cause leaf spots, so water the compost and not the leaves, and wipe dust off gently.

## Related plants

[Peperomia](https://plantguide.ae/plants/peperomia.md) · [Parlour palm](https://plantguide.ae/plants/parlour-palm.md) · [Pothos](https://plantguide.ae/plants/pothos.md) · [Money tree](https://plantguide.ae/plants/money-tree.md) · [African violet](https://plantguide.ae/plants/african-violet.md) · [Hoya](https://plantguide.ae/plants/hoya.md)

## Photos

![Botanical specimen in the Bergianska trädgården - Stockholm, Sweden.](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/62/Pilea_peperomioides_-_Bergianska_tr%C3%A4dg%C3%A5rden_-_Stockholm%2C_Sweden_-_DSC00479.JPG)  
Photo: Daderot / CC0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pilea_peperomioides_-_Bergianska_tr%C3%A4dg%C3%A5rden_-_Stockholm,_Sweden_-_DSC00479.JPG))

![Pilea peperomioides - Foliage](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f6/%28MHNT%29_Pilea_peperomioides_Foliage.jpg)  
Photo: Didier Descouens / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:(MHNT)_Pilea_peperomioides_Foliage.jpg))

![Botanical specimen in the Botanischer Garten, Dresden, Germany.](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9a/Pilea_peperomioides_-_Botanischer_Garten%2C_Dresden%2C_Germany_-_DSC08613.JPG)  
Photo: Daderot / CC0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pilea_peperomioides_-_Botanischer_Garten,_Dresden,_Germany_-_DSC08613.JPG))

![Pilea peperomioides (Chinese money plant) in both fully grown and infant state.](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6d/Pilea_peperomioides_Chinese_money_plant.jpg)  
Photo: Husky / CC0 / Wikimedia Commons ([source](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pilea_peperomioides_Chinese_money_plant.jpg))

## Sources

- [RHS: How to grow pilea](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pilea/how-to-grow-pilea)
- [RHS: Pilea peperomioides plant profile](https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/13015/pilea-peperomioides/details)
- [NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Pilea peperomioides](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/pilea-peperomioides/)
- [ASPCA: Are succulents safe to have around pets?](https://www.aspca.org/news/are-succulents-safe-have-around-pets)
- [University of Maryland Extension: Watering indoor plants](https://extension.umd.edu/resource/watering-indoor-plants)
- [Plantsworld indoor plants (price checked 7 October 2026)](https://plantsworld.ae/collections/indoor-plants)