Plant guides / Chinese money plant
'Sugar' pilea guide
Pilea peperomioides 'Sugar', also called Sugar pilea, speckled Chinese money plant
Published 2026-11-08
Quick care
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Water
- When the top 2 to 3 cm (1 in) of soil is dry
- Humidity
- Average room air is fine
- Temperature
- 15 to 27°C (60 to 80°F). Keep above 10°C (50°F).
- Soil
- Well-draining houseplant mix with perlite
- Feeding
- Half-strength fertilizer monthly in spring and summer
- Pets
- Non-toxic to cats and dogs
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Mature size
- 20 to 30 cm (8 to 12 in) tall and wide
- Propagation
- Pot up the pups that grow from the roots and stem
- Where to buy
- Plant shops
This page covers what makes 'Sugar' pilea different. For light, water, soil, pests, and the rest, read the Chinese money plant care guide.
What it is
‘Sugar’ is a Chinese money plant with round leaves sprinkled with tiny white dots, as if someone dusted it with sugar. The dots are fine and even across the leaf.
How to tell it apart
| Plant | Leaves | The tell |
|---|---|---|
| ‘Sugar’ | Round, green with tiny white dots | Fine, even speckles |
| ‘White Splash’ pilea | Round, green with white streaks | Big streaks and patches |
| Chinese money plant | Round, solid green | No white |
Care differences
The speckles stay clearest in bright indirect light. It grows a bit slower than the plain kind.
Grow it from pups
Cut a pup with a few leaves and root it in water or moist soil. Pups keep the speckles.
Buying it
‘Sugar’ is sold at plant shops and online. Look for clear speckles on new leaves.