Artificial Pilea Bush

What options are there?

The pilea bush comes in a stylish terracotta pot measuring 11.5cm in diameter and 9.5cm tall. The bush itself is approximately 24cm tall and 20cm wide and the leaves measure roughly 8.5cm in diameter.

Will you be able to tell it’s not real?

The pilea bush is manufactured using durable high quality plastic which perfectly recreates the same waxy look of its natural counterpart. The foliage features two tones of green to mimic new growth and each leaf features small veins just like the real thing. The terracotta pot would naturally be a better option for this plant to allow it to dry out in between watering and so makes this faux replica look even more authentic.

Where should you use it?

Naturally the pilea bush loves bright indirect sunlight, but direct sunlight would cause the leaves to burn. A window sill or on a table top near a window will be the ideal place for this cute faux plant. However it will be happy wherever you decide to put it and will still look as good as it did when you first took it out of its box.

This plant is designed for indoor use only as it is not UV protected. We therefore do not recommend using this outside or in strong direct sunlight for long periods of time in order to prevent any discolouration.

For more information, read our UV guide here.

When the pilea bush arrives, this is what you need to do:

1. Unpack
Your pilea bush will arrive securely packed in a strong cardboard box. The pot and foliage may be wrapped in additional protection to keep them safe in transit, which should be recycled if possible.

In the unlikely case that your pilea bush is damaged please let us know as soon as possible.


2. Arrange
Once you’ve removed your pilea bush from its box you may notice that the leaves are bunched together and there may be a few creases in the foliage. Don’t worry. This is normal for artificial plants due to them being packed tightly in their box to keep them safe.

All you need to do is gently bend out each frond until you’re happy with the overall look. You can use our photos above or an image of a real pilea to help.

For any creases, simply run your hands over them to straighten out the leaves and any that remain will drop out over the next few days.

For more information on how to arrange your artificial plants, watch our handy video guide here.


3. Re-pot
The pilea bush comes in a more decorative pot than most faux plants. The stylish terracotta planter gives this plant a more natural look and can be displayed without re-potting. Alternatively, you can always re-pot your pilea into a more attractive pot is you wish.

To do this, place your pilea bush and its terracotta pot into your new planter. You can use one you have at home or choose from our range of small premium plastic planters here.

Next, fill in any gaps with sand, soil or stones and top with either more soil or some decorative stones to complete the look.

For more information on how to re-pot your artificial pilea bush, watch our step by step video guide here.

What about ongoing maintenance?

To keep a natural pilea bush happy it needs regular watering (but it must dry out in between waterings) and fertilising during the spring and summer months. It also benefits from regular cleaning as dust tends to accumulate on the leaves.

Rather than worrying about watering, fertilising and the ideal location for your artificial pilea bush, it will only need a couple of minutes spent a month to keep its leaves free from dust or dirt.

By wiping down each leaf, your pilea bush will look fresh and more realistic. Read more about how to clean artificial plants here.

Did you know?

The pilea bush is also known as the ‘friendship plant’. This is because it will naturally grow new smaller pilea plants (called pups) which can be removed and allowed to grow into a whole new plant, perfect as a gift for friends and family. It’s also called the ‘Chinese money plant’ as it’s originally from the Southwestern Yunnan province of China.

More common names for the pilea bush are the ‘pancake plant’ and ‘UFO plant’ due to its unusual foliage!

Looking for something else?

If the pilea bush isn’t what you’re looking for, view our full range of small desktop plants here.