Pilea peperomioides aka Chinese Money Plant

Pilea peperomioides, also known as the Chinese money plant, UFO plant, pancake plant, lefse plant, or missionary plant, is a species of flowering plant in the nettle family Urticaceae. This unique plant is native to the southwestern province of Sichuan and the western province of Yunnan in southern China, where it thrives in wooded areas at elevations ranging from 1500 to 3000 meters. The Chinese money plant has round, glossy, leathery, vivid green leaves that can grow up to 10 centimeters in diameter. Initially forming a small, loose rosette with several leaves on long, slender legs, over time, the plant develops a trunk that requires support. With good care, the plant grows quickly, frequently halting when it reaches 30-35 centimeters in height. The flowering of Pilea peperomioides is quite inconspicuous, with small, unisexual flowers collected in inflorescence brushes located in the axils of the leaves. Despite being grown as a houseplant in thousands of private European homes for 20 years, it wasn't known or studied by British botanists until later. The plant was first collected in 1906 in the Tsangshan mountain range in western Yunnan, China, rising to almost 14,000 feet altitude just west of the ancient city of Dali. The Chinese money plant is an adorable addition to any interior with its unusual round leaves. Its natural habitat is exclusively found in China, where it is also kept as a garden plant. However, it is now a popular houseplant all around the world.