Pilea nummulariifolia
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- py-LEE-uh num-yoo-lay-ree-ih-FOH-lee-uh
- Description
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Creeping Charlie is a creeping groundcover perennial plant in the Urticaceae family. Often grown indoors as a house plant. When planted outside it is considered weedy. Each oval leaf is bright to glossy medium green with small scalloped edges. Veins appear to be sunken giving the interveinal sections a puffy, crinkly look. The flowers are white to pinkish but are insignificant. Sprawling fleshy stems can root at the nodes where stems contact soil so it can be quite weedy. If planting outdoors, do so in protected frost-free areas or use as a bedding or a container annual.
This plant does best in semi-shade and consistently moist fertile well-drained soils in a humid environment. As a house plant, provide water when the top 1 inch is dry and fertile monthly from spring to fall.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Intolerant of drought but can also be overwatered causing root rot. Also susceptible to bacterial leaf spot and mealy bugs
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- pilea
- Species:
- nummaularifolia
- Family:
- Urticaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The leaves are edible and can be used in teas.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Stem Cutting
- Edibility:
- Edible leaves
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Houseplant
- Perennial
- Vine
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 10a, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Achene
- Fruit Description:
- Small green achenes
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- White
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Small Insignificant cream to greenish flowers
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Leaf Shape:
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Bright green oval leaf with small scalloped edges. Veins appear to be sunken giving the interveinal sections a puffy, crinkly look.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Reddish stems that root at the nodes
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Hanging Baskets
- Problems:
- Weedy
