Pilea Cadierei, commonly called the Aluminum Plant or Watermelon Pilea, is native to southern China (Guizhou and Yunnan provinces) and Vietnam, named for 20th-century botanist R.P. Cadière. It's a compact, bushy member of the nettle family (Urticaceae), grown for dark green, quilted-textured leaves marked with four rows of raised silvery patches — as if splashed with metallic paint, which gives the plant its common name.
Note: as a freshly imported bare-root plant, this specimen typically arrives with just a few leaves — the photo shows a more mature, fuller specimen for reference.
Care tip: Pinch the growing tips regularly to keep this plant compact and encourage bushier growth — left unpinched, stems tend to get leggy fairly quickly.
Give it bright, indirect light (too little light fades the silver variegation), a peaty, well-draining, soil-based mix, and moderate watering — keep the soil lightly moist in the growing season, tapering off in fall and winter. Moderate to high humidity (50%+) keeps the foliage looking its best; a pebble tray or nearby humidifier helps in drier rooms.
A Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit winner for its hardiness and reliability — an easy, rewarding houseplant with genuinely striking metallic foliage that looks unlike almost anything else on a shelf.
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Light | Bright, indirect light |
| Humidity | 50%+ preferred |
| Watering | Keep lightly moist spring–fall; reduce in winter |
| Temperature | 70–75°F (20–24°C) day, 60–70°F (16–21°C) night |
| Soil | Peaty, well-draining, soil-based potting mix |
| Fertilizer | Balanced fertilizer every 5–6 weeks during active growth |
| Origin | Southern China and Vietnam |
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