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Taking time to live well
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Image: Auf der Mammiladen 

Image: Auf der Mammiladen 

Give it a Grow: Pilea Pepermioides

Lottie Storey October 3, 2016

WHAT IS IT?

A rather trendy leafy houseplant that, until fairly recently, caused a bit of a brew-ha-ha in the horticultural world because none of the experts knew what it was called. For years it had regularly appeared at Royal Botanic Gardens Kew’s help desk to be identified by mystified members of the public. It wasn’t until the late 1970s that it got a name, when Kew botanist Wessel Marais suggested that it was a Chinese species of Pilea. It now has several common names, including the Chinese money plant, the missionary plant and the pancake plant.

WHY WOULD YOU?

It has a rather appealing story attached to it: the plant was introduced to Europe in 1946 by a Norwegian missionary who had been travelling in the Chinese province of Yunming. Making the most of the plant’s easy-growing nature, he gave cuttings to friends and family in Norway, who in turn passed it on to friends in Sweden, then the UK and so on. It’s easy to grow, needing indirect light, good drainage and an occasional drink when the soil is dry.

WHY WOULDN’T YOU?

It can be hard to find a plant because more often than not, it’s ‘passed on’ rather than sold via nurseries. Try eBay. 

 

More from the October issue:

Featured
Oct 25, 2016
The tallest oak was once just a nut that held its ground
Oct 25, 2016
Oct 25, 2016
Oct 24, 2016
How to make a corn dolly
Oct 24, 2016
Oct 24, 2016
Oct 19, 2016
Be a kitchen witch!
Oct 19, 2016
Oct 19, 2016

More Give it a Grow posts:

Featured
Feb 6, 2017
Give it a grow: Raspberries
Feb 6, 2017
Feb 6, 2017
Nov 18, 2016
Give it a grow: Bare-root climbing roses
Nov 18, 2016
Nov 18, 2016
Oct 3, 2016
Give it a Grow: Pilea Pepermioides
Oct 3, 2016
Oct 3, 2016
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Ingardening, Growing, Miscellany Tagsissue 52, october, give it a grow, pilea, houseplant, House plants
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  Buy ,  download  or  subscribe   See the sample of our latest issue  here   Buy a copy of our latest anthology:  A Year of Celebrations   Buy a copy of  Flourish 2 , our wellbeing bookazine  Listen to  our podcast  - Small Ways to Live Well
Feb 27, 2025
Feb 27, 2025

Buy, download or subscribe

See the sample of our latest issue here

Buy a copy of our latest anthology: A Year of Celebrations

Buy a copy of Flourish 2, our wellbeing bookazine

Listen to our podcast - Small Ways to Live Well

Feb 27, 2025
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The Simple Things is published by Iceberg Press

The Simple Things

Taking time to live well

We celebrate slowing down, enjoying what you have, making the most of where you live, enjoying the company of of friends and family, and feeding them well. We like to grow some of our own vegetables, visit local markets, rummage for vintage finds, and decorate our home with the plunder. We love being outdoors and enjoy the satisfaction that comes with a job well done.

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