Pilea Peperomioides, also known as the Chinese Money Plant, UFO Plant, or Missionary Plant, is apart of the “it” plant crowd! Discover what makes this lilypad esque plant an all-time favorite of many plant enthusiasts and gardeners.
The Chinese Money Plant is one of the first interesting plants that I recommend for beginners and seasoned houseplant people.
They are so easy to care for and they give off that unique or exotic vibe everyone wants. Personally, thats the best of both worlds – Easy to care for AND catches the eyes of anyone who walks by it.
This plant was popular in Europe for a while before making its way over to the United States. Quickly it became sought-after and a favorite of many plant enthusiasts. Read on to find out why that is and how to care for your own!
Lily pads are iconic aquatic plants known for their large, round green leaves that float gracefully on the surface of ponds and lakes With their striking appearance, it’s no wonder gardeners are eager to find plants that emulate the beauty of lily pads Fortunately, several terrific options allow you to cultivate the allure of lily pads whether you have an in-ground pond or not.
Overview of Lily Pads
Before diving into lily pad lookalikes, let’s briefly go over some background on real lily pads. True lily pads belong to the genus Nymphaea. There are around 50 species in this group, with the most popular being the fragrant white water lily (Nymphaea odorata). Lily pads have leaves that can grow up to 12 inches wide. Their stems connect underwater to rhizomes buried in pond muck.
In addition to their charming leaves many lily pad species produce exquisite flowers in white, pink yellow, and blue hues. These plants thrive planted in full sun areas of ponds, lakes, and slow-moving streams. They serve as invaluable habitat and food sources for aquatic animals while gracing landscapes with elegance.
9 Plants That Emulate Lily Pads
If you want to recreate the magic of lily pads in your yard or indoor space. these 9 plants make splendid substitutes
1. Pilea Peperomioides
Also called the Chinese money plant or pancake plant, pilea peperomioides is a trendy houseplant known for its coin-shaped, emerald green leaves. Native to southern China, pilea resembles a miniature lily pad and is easy to grow indoors. It thrives in bright, indirect light and moderately moist soil.
2. Tropaeolum Majus
Commonly called nasturtium, Tropaeolum majus is a fast-growing annual that produces lush, rounded leaves on trailing stems. The leaves beautifully mimic lily pads, especially when planted near ponds or water features. Nasturtium comes in a variety of leaf colors andsizes and blooms in brilliant shades of red, orange, and yellow.
3. Pennywort
Floating pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides) is an aquatic plant with small, circular, scalloped-edged leaves that float on water like tiny lily pads. Invasive in some regions, pennywort works beautifully in backyard ponds and water features where it can be contained. For a non-invasive option, try creeping pennywort (Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides), which has similar leaves and spreads as a groundcover.
4. Dichondra
Dichondra is a perennial groundcover well-suited to warm climates like Florida and California. It develops low mats of fan-shaped, nearly circular leaves reminiscent of miniature lily pads. ‘Silver Falls’ and ‘Emerald Falls’ are two popular dichondra varieties perfect for cascading over container edges or softening walkways.
5. Marsilea
Commonly known as waterclovers, Marsilea plants include several aquatic and semi-aquatic species with leaves shaped like four-leaf clovers. M. mutica and M. quadrifolia are two species with lily pad-esque round leaves that float on the water’s surface. Use them to add charm to small backyard ponds.
6. Gotu Kola
Gotu kola (Centella asiatica) is a perennial groundcover native to Asia valued for its medicinal properties. Its rounded, bright green leaves paired with long, spindly stems create an uncanny resemblance to lily pads. Gotu kola thrives in moist, partly shaded sites.
7. Banana Plant
Despite its name, banana plant (Nymphoides aquatica) is not related to banana trees. This aquatic plant has wavy-edged, floating round leaves reminiscent of smaller lily pads. Yellow banana-like flowers emerge in summer. Banana plant grows readily in ponds and is hardy in USDA zones 7-10.
8. Leopard Plant
Sporting lush leaves sprinkled with purple spots, Farfugium japonicum ‘Aureomaculatum’ goes by the common name leopard plant. Its broad, rounded leaves evoke large lily pads. Leopard plant does best in part shade with consistent moisture. Use it to add exotic allure to shady beds and borders.
9. Water Poppy
Water poppies belong to the genus Hydrocleys and produce floating lily pad-shaped leaves and large, yellow poppy-like flowers. H. nymphoides is a choice species for small backyard ponds. It is hardy in zones 8-11 and spreads into lush colonies.
Bring the Beauty of Lily Pads to Your Landscape
Lily pads lend ponds and lakes iconic beauty and provide crucial ecological benefits. While you may not be able to grow true lily pads everywhere, you can recreate their allure through clever plant substitutions. The 9 plants profiled here recreate the charm and elegance of lily pads in gardens across diverse climates and settings.
What Is Pilea Peperomioides?
Chinese Money Plant, or Pilea Peperomioides, comes from China and is known for its eye-catching pad-like leaves in bright hues of green. A Norwegian missionary took some cuttings and brought them back to Europe, where he helped cultivate and propagate it into the popular plant you know today. Only in recent years has this plant made its way into American homes, where it almost immediately made its way into our hearts as well (awe).
Floating lilypad esque foliage is what makes this plant so noteworthy!
There is a reason why they call this houseplant the Friendship Plant. Its because its the gift that keeps on giving. Its a self-propagating master. I mean the reason why this plant became so widespread in Europe and America, is because of that reason.
This plant is probably one of the easiest plants to propagate, because..well..they do it on their own! Pilea shoot out pups or new plant babies from the mother plant or stem. You can easily snip them and place them in their own pot to grow roots, or leave them there to grow and thrive (aesthetically, this is up to you).
Quick Tip: These plant buddies make wonderful gifts to friends and family. Since this plant grows so fast, you will always have new plant babies. I would honestly recommend giving away a lot the pups or your own plant jungle might just end up being all Pilea (nothing wrong with that, but I think you catch my drift)!
The giant water lily is VICIOUS! The Green Planet BBC
FAQ
What is the plant that looks like lily pads?
Also known as the Chinese money plant, this sought-after houseplant has eye-catching round, lily-pad like leaves and a mounded shape. Pilea peperomiodes likes a bright spot, out of direct sunshine.
What is a plant that looks like a lily but isn’t?
Some flowers that resemble lilies in terms of shape and color include:Daylilies (Hemerocallis)Alstroemeria (Peruvian Lily)GladiolusTulips (especially certain varieties like Lily-flowered tulips)Crocosmia (Montbretia)Zephyranthes (Rain Lily)Erythronium (Dog’s Tooth Violet)These flowers come in various shades of red, …
What ground cover looks like tiny lily pads?
Dollarweed (Hydrocotyle spp.), also known as pennywort, is a warm-season perennial weed. It gets the common name, dollarweed, from its silver–dollar-shaped leaves. The leaves of dollarweed are round, bright green, fleshy, and look like miniature lily pads measuring 1-2” in diameter with a scalloped edge.
What is the lily pad like houseplant?
Pilea Peperomioides, affectionately known as the “UFO plant” or “Chinese Money Plant,” instantly grabs attention with its unique appearance. Its round, pancake-shaped leaves, reminiscent of lily pads, are perched atop slender, often slightly drooping stems.
What plants resemble lily pads?
Pilea peperomioides, also known as the Pancake Plant or Chinese Money Plant, is a charming houseplant that resembles miniature Lily Pads. 3. Giant Salvinia Botanical Name: Salvinia molesta Gant salvinia is an invasive aquatic plant with small, round leaves that resemble lily pads. 4. Water Hyacinth Botanical Name: Eichhornia crassipes
What is a good alternative to lily pads?
Nymphoides Aquatica, or Banana plant, is a great water plant that you should consider as an alternative to Lily Pads. This plant is native to the southeastern parts of the United States, including Maryland and Texas. The leaves of this plant are round, with a notch at the base where the stem connects to the leaf.
What are lily pads?
Lily Pads are stunning water plants that paint a picturesque image of a lush and healthy pond or lake. When most people think of these waterways, almost all will tell you that green and flowering Lily Pads are floating on the water.
Are lily pads bad for a pond?
Lily Pads are beautiful plants that can generally be grown in most environments, but there are some locations where they can harm the ecosystems in your area. To avoid this but still have your pond looking the way you dreamed it, you need to plant another water plant that looks like a Lily Pad.
Are Monstera lilies the same as peace lily?
Monstera plants are lovely indoor and outdoor plants that mimic the look of a Peace Lilies very well. When Monstera plants are small, they will not give you the Lily look you want in your garden, but as these plants mature and grow, they will soon become almost identical to the Peace Lily.
Are lily pads floating on the water?
When most people think of these waterways, almost all will tell you that green and flowering Lily Pads are floating on the water. You can have Lily Pads in your garden pond to help create a calming scene that is beautiful to look at and will be the star of your garden.