Pilea cadierei Plants GrowTropicals
Pilea cadierei — 8.5cm
Aluminium Plant

Pilea cadierei

£3.99 £5.99 SAVE 33%
Hard to killPet-safe
Pot size

FREE tracked delivery on orders over £60

Complete the set up
Terrarium Premium Substrate (ABG Mix)
The perfect soil Terrarium Premium Substrate (ABG Mix) · 2.5L · £5.99
Description

Pilea cadierei is a compact, upright, non-stinging evergreen perennial in the nettle family (Urticaceae) commonly known as the Aluminum Plant. Its leaves are deep green with raised, metallic-silver patches across the upper surface, creating a patterned, quilted appearance. Native to the humid, shaded forest floors of southern China and northern Vietnam, it is typically grown for its foliage, as flowering is unremarkable. Its upright stems and symmetrical leaf arrangement give it a tidy, structured form.

This species remains small, usually growing 15–30 cm tall, and benefits from occasional pinching to maintain a bushy habit. The ovate leaves are opposite, slightly serrated, and develop silver markings as they mature. New leaves emerge bright green before taking on their characteristic metallic appearance. Its compact size and preference for stable indoor conditions make it perfect for growing indoors.

Native to:
Southern China (including Guizhou and Yunnan) and northern Vietnam; naturally found in shaded, humid forest habitats.

Water:
Keep the potting mix evenly moist but not soggy. Allow the top third of the substrate to dry slightly before watering again. Water less frequently in winter while avoiding full dryness.

Light:
Requires bright filtered or indirect light. Can tolerate moderate light, but insufficient light may cause faded markings. Avoid direct sun, which can burn the foliage.

Humidity:
Prefers moderate to high humidity levels above 50%. Benefits from regular misting or a nearby humidifier. Its compact growth also makes it suitable for terrariums.

Temperature:
Grows best in temperatures between 16–24 °C. Keep away from cold drafts or sudden temperature drops, and do not expose to conditions below 15 °C.

Live Arrival Guarantee

All plants are covered by our 7-day live arrival guarantee. We pack every order in protective, sustainable packaging designed to keep your plants safe in transit, and every plant is checked before it ships. On the rare occasion something is not right on arrival, we will make it good, provided the plant is still in its original nursery pot.

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Delivery & returns

Order by 1pm Monday to Friday for same day dispatch. Every plant travels in protective, plant-safe packaging with tracked delivery.

Changed your mind? See our Return Policy.

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7 day live arrival guarantee
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How to care for Aluminium Plant

Give me bright light out of the midday sun and water me when the top of my soil feels dry.

In their words

What our customers say

Arrived just like the photos - maybe even fuller. Healthy, well-acclimated, and straight into my collection with no issues.

Emily P.

Flawless leaves, stunning variegation, and clearly cared for by experts. It’s already a talking point in my home office.

James R.

Hard to find rare plants that are pet-safe. Ours arrived in perfect condition and looks amazing without any worry.

Sophie L.
Get to know me

About Aluminium Plant

Pilea cadierei is an easy-care houseplant. It needs bright indirect light, watering once the top 2 to 3cm of compost has dried out, a little extra humidity and a minimum temperature of 10°C. It is listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Good for

Living Room Kitchen Bathroom

Care level

EasyChallenge

Easy care

Light

ShadeFull sun

Bright, indirect light

Watering

Evenly moistDries out fully

Let the top few centimetres dry out

Humidity

Average homeHigh humidity

Prefers a little extra humidity

Temperature

Keep above 10°C · Happy at normal room temperature

Feeding

Feed monthly with a balanced fertiliser from spring to autumn, and let it rest over winter.

Growth habit

Upright →Clumping →

Plant type

Foliage houseplant →

Toxicity

Listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs. Plants still are not food, so a determined chewer may get an upset stomach.

Also known as

Pilea cadierei

Genus

Pilea →
Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my plant come with a pot?
Your plant will arrive in its nursery grow pot — the plastic pot it's been growing in. We don't include a decorative pot as standard, and there's a good reason for that: it means you get to choose one that fits your space and style, rather than being stuck with something that doesn't suit your home.

It also means you're not paying extra for a pot you might not want. The nursery pot is perfectly fine to keep your plant in for a while, just pop it inside a decorative cover pot or cache pot and you're good to go. When you're ready to repot (usually after a growing season or when roots start poking out the bottom), you can move it into something more permanent with fresh soil.

If you're not sure what size cover pot to go for, check the pot selector tool listed above, you'll want a decorative pot that's a centimetre or two wider than that to give it a comfortable fit.
How big will my plant be when it arrives?
Every plant on our site includes the pot size (e.g. 12cm) and, where possible, an approximate height. That's the most reliable way to set your expectations, photos can sometimes make a plant look larger or smaller than it really is.

If you're thinking "that sounds quite small for the price," here's something worth knowing: younger, smaller plants almost always adapt better to your home than larger ones. They adjust faster to your light and humidity, put out new growth more quickly, and tend to establish stronger root systems long-term. A plant that grows into your space will usually outperform one that was already big when it arrived.

That said, every plant is an individual. The one you receive may vary slightly in height, shape, or fullness compared to the photo, that's the nature of living things, not a quality issue. We select healthy, well-established specimens, and if you ever feel your plant doesn't match what you were expecting, just get in touch and we'll take a look.
What makes your plants different from the supermarket or garden centre?
There's a big difference between a plant that's been sitting under on a retail shelf and one that's been looked after and cared for by people who specialise in exactly this.

Our plants are grown in house or sourced from specialist nurseries, many of them varieties you simply won't find at your local garden centre or supermarket. Before anything leaves us, it's checked over by our horticultural team to make sure it's healthy, well-rooted, and ready to thrive in your home. We're not shifting volume off a pallet, we're choosing plants we'd want to keep ourselves.

When you buy from a supermarket, you get a plant and a generic care label. When you buy from us, you get the knowledge that comes with it, detailed care guidance, a team you can actually contact if something isn't going right, and the confidence that what's arriving has been looked after properly from the moment it was grown to the moment it reaches your door.

We're a specialist nursery first, not a retailer that happens to sell plants. That's the difference, and you'll see it the moment you open the box.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
First things first, unbox it as soon as you can. Plants don't love being in dark boxes any more than you would, and the sooner yours is out and breathing, the better.

Remove all the packaging carefully, give the soil a check with your finger, and water lightly if it feels dry. Then find it a spot with appropriate light, but avoid putting it straight into harsh direct sun or next to a radiator. Think of it like arriving somewhere new after a long journey: it needs a moment to adjust.

It's completely normal for your plant to look a little tired or droopy after transit. This is called transit stress, and most plants bounce back within a week or two. You might see a yellow leaf or some drooping, don't panic, and resist the urge to overwater or start repotting straight away.

Our advice for the first couple of weeks: leave it in its nursery pot, water it only when the top layer of soil feels dry, and let it acclimatise to your home's light, temperature, and humidity. Once it's settled in and showing signs of new growth, you can think about repotting or moving it to its permanent spot.

Every plant we sell comes with a care guide on the product page so you'll know exactly what it needs going forward. And if anything doesn't look right, get in touch with our team, we're always happy to help.
Will my plant survive being shipped?
Yes! and we go to serious lengths to make sure of it. Every plant is hand-packed by our team with protective wrapping and secure, custom-designed boxes to keep it stable and safe in transit. We've shipped hundreds of thousands of plants across the UK and our packaging methods have been refined over years to handle the bumps and jolts of delivery.

During colder months, we monitor weather forecasts and offer heat packs where needed to protect against frost. In extreme conditions, we may hold your order for a day or two rather than risk sending it out, we'd rather you wait an extra day than receive a stressed plant.

That said, plants are living things, and the occasional transit wobble can happen. If your plant arrives damaged or isn't in the condition you'd expect, just get in touch within 48 hours with a photo, and we'll make it right, whether that's a replacement or a full refund. No fuss.

The short version: we treat every box like it's going to someone who really cares about what's inside, because it is.
Meet the family

Everything about Pilea

The Pilea genus is native to tropical and subtropical regions around the world—Asia, Central and South America, Africa. These plants range from tiny creeping ground covers to larger, upright varieties. Their natural habitats vary from misty forest floors to...

More about Pilea care
Pilea Care Guide
Why Grow Tropicals

Plants delivered the way they deserve

Packaged with Care

Packaged with Care

Every order is hand-packed in eco-friendly, protective packaging - refined through thousands of deliveries to ensure your plant arrives healthy, hydrated, and looking its best.

Backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee.

Perfect for Gifting

Perfect for Gifting

From rare collector’s pieces to easy-care favourites, our plants arrive fully potted and ready to enjoy. Add a personalised note at checkout for a thoughtful finishing touch.

Delivered fresh, beautiful, and gift-ready.

Sustainability at Heart

Sustainability at Heart

All plants are ethically sourced from trusted growers, never wild-collected. Every order ships carbon-neutral in minimal-waste packaging.

Good for your home - and the planet.

Verified reviews

Rated by real customers

Customers praised this healthy plant for being "lovely" and "beautiful," consistently noting excellent packaging that ensures safe delivery. Shoppers described it as "prettier than in pictures" and a "quick grower." Multiple buyers reported plants arrived undamaged with "not a leaf out of place." Perfect for terrariums and collections.

  • Beautiful little plants, perfectly packaged and not a leaf out of place
  • Prettier plant than in pictures. A quick grower and already growing taller.
  • Package came perfectly packaged and arrived in perfect health.
  • 5 stars: 11 (100%)
  • 4 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 3 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 2 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 1 star: 0 (0%)
A
Anonymous (United Kingdom)
8.5cm

Love it🌱💚

Anonymous review photo
R
Rebecca M.
Lovely little plants

Beautiful little plants, perfectly packaged and not a leaf out of place

Rebecca M. review photo Rebecca M. review photo Rebecca M. review photo
V
Vicky P.
:star::star::star::star::star:

This is my second order and I am so happy again with the quality. Package came perfectly packaged and arrived in perfect health. I can't wait to place my next order.

Vicky P. review photo
C
Colin C.
Beautiful pilea

Gorgeous plant, so cute.

Colin C. review photo
C
Caitlin R.
Great plants

First time ordering from here, plants arrived quickly and well packaged, no damage, was very happy with all of them, can't wait to see them grow more and thrive

Caitlin R. review photo
K
Kiana M.
Prettier plant than in pictures.

Prettier plant than in pictures. A quick grower and already growing taller.

Kiana M. review photo
T
Tracey Addison (United Kingdom)
8.5cm

Lovely plant well packaged

P
Pamela L.
Lovely.

Lovely healthy plant. Is now planted in my new terrarium :blush:

M
Mrs K.
New plants

Very nice plants and well packed.

S
Silvina M.
Great plants

Plants were carefully packed and arrived undamaged. They look great!

G
Gwen B.
Absolute beauty

Pilea cadierei is absolute beauty to add my to my forever growing collection :heart_eyes:

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Pilea cadierei
£3.99 £5.99