Plant guide
Chinese Money Plant
Pilea peperomioides
Chinese money plant (Pilea peperomioides) is considered non-toxic to cats. Check its scientific name before bringing it home; other plants called money plants can have different safety assessments.
Non-toxic does not mean edible. Eating plant material can still upset your cat’s stomach.
What this guide covers: This guide covers Pilea peperomioides only. Money plant and money tree are ambiguous common names.
Photo:
Photo details
Pilea peperomioides Chinese money plant.jpg
By Husky
License: CC0
Resized and converted to WebP for display; botanical details unchanged.
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Photo:
Photo details
Pilea peperomioides Chinese money plant.jpg
By Husky
License: CC0
Resized and converted to WebP for display; botanical details unchanged.
Chinese money plant
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Non-toxic does not mean edible. Chewing plants can still upset your cat’s stomach.
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Look for Pilea peperomioides and check the selected variety. Listings and availability can change.
Plant identity
- Scientific name
- Pilea peperomioides
- Scope
- Species
- Family
- Urticaceae
- Also known as
- Pancake Plant, UFO Plant
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How to grow this plant
Container growing guidance for Pilea peperomioides.
- Light
- Bright indirect light
Use bright, indirect light. Stretched, leggy growth can indicate insufficient light; choose a brighter indirect position rather than strong direct sun.
- Watering
- Keep evenly moist
Keep the mix moist with good drainage; avoid a waterlogged pot. Direct water onto the mix rather than the leaves to reduce leaf-spot problems.
- Temperature
- Temperature range not yet established
A normal indoor growing range has not been established in this review.
- Humidity
- Higher humidity
Moderate to high humidity is preferred, although ordinary indoor humidity is tolerated.
- Potting
- Use a well-drained potting mix.
- Through the year
- Separate offsets in spring or early summer if desired. Protect from cold and heat extremes.
Growing-guide sources
- pilea peperomioides - Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗NC State Extension · Accessed 2026-11-01
Care guidance for the named taxon; indoor recommendations take precedence over outdoor hardiness information.
Growing advice reviewed 2026-11-01. Plant safety is assessed separately.
Reviewed safety information
- Toxic principle
- Not recorded in the reviewed evidence
- Reported signs
- Not recorded in the reviewed evidence
Missing information is unknown. It should not be interpreted as an absence of risk.
Safe alternatives
No verified alternative recommendations are available for this guide.
Sources & review
- Pilea peperomioides — plant toxicology entry ↗University of Zurich, Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology · Accessed
- Pet ‘safe’ plants — Version 1, August 2023 ↗Veterinary Poisons Information Service · Accessed
Safety last reviewed .