Pilea peperomioides became the 2016-2018 It Plant, with its circular, coin-like leaves and fascinating backstory creating Instagram frenzy.
The Scarcity Story
Pilea peperomioides remained rare outside China until Norwegian missionary Agnar Espegren brought cuttings to Scandinavia in 1946. The plant spread via cuttings among friends (“Pass it on plant”), never entering commercial trade.
Instagram plant influencers discovered it around 2015-2016, sparking demand that nurseries couldn’t meet. Scarcity drove prices: $50-100 for a small plant. Plant swaps and Facebook groups dedicated to finding cuttings emerged.
The Market Flood
By 2018, tissue culture labs mass-produced pileas, flooding the market. Prices crashed from $50 to $5-10. The hype died, but the plant remained popular for its UFO-shaped leaves and prolific pup production.
Propagation Culture
Pileas produce baby plants (pups) at the base, making propagation easy and shareable. “Pilea pup patrol” became plant content — checking for babies, separating them, gifting to friends.
Source
- The Guardian: “How the pilea became the it plant” (May 2017)
- Price peak: 2016-2017
- Market saturation: 2018