Pilea Species, Clearweed

I considered it for years as a pretty weed, easy to pull up, probably Eurasian. Then, I discovered that it is a native annual of eastern ...Read MoreNorth America. Its foliage feeds caterpillars of several butterfly and moth species. It is the same genus as a number of ornamental tropical plants.

Southeast PA - I love this plant. It thrives in wet areas with some shade, not as much in drier areas. Easy to grow, reproduces from se...Read Moreed, very attractive, orderly look to foliage. Supports native insects.

I do not recommend this unless you want it to spread--if conditions are right, it will spread. I like it though, and I like that it helps shut out a number of undesirable plants, like stiltgrass, goutweed, and other invasives of wet areas. I like a lush garden, full of native plants, and if you want a similar kind of garden, and have low, wet areas, this is a great plant.

I have not had a problem with keeping this plant in check. It is small, shallow-rooted, and takes only seconds to pull out. The plants are hairless and smooth so you do not need gloves to pull it out if it is growing somewhere you do not want it to be.

The caterpillars of the following butterflies feed on the foliage: Nymphalis milberti (Milbert's Tortoiseshell), Polygonia comma (Comma),...Read More Polygonia interrogationis (Question Mark), and Vanessa atalanta (Red Admiral).

This plant grows everywhere, sun, shade, it isn't picky. I spend all growing season ripping the stuff out of my flower beds. Yeah, it p...Read Moreulls up easily, but it is everywhere. And not just a plant here and there, it blankets the ground. I dislike it intensely and have been battling it for the last 7 years. Do not introduce this plant to your property unless you want to spend lots of time weeding!