PlantFiles: Artillery Plant
Pilea microphylla

The Hawaiian form of this plant, Pilea peploides, is one of the most invasive plants around. It turns up in nursery pots and EVERYwhere. I am experimenting with spraying it with clorox to kill it and so far am successful - and waiting to see if it will return on the same rootstock and if the clorox has killed the tiny seedlings. NONE of the common herbicides has any affect on it... There is a commercial herbicide which has a nasty habit of killing the plants it is near!!!

I gave it a negative because in my Houston yard it's extremely invasive, if I'm seeing these pictures right. Maybe there's a weed that looks just like it? Mine doesn't appear to bloom, but it sure does spread...everywhere. We moved here 3 years ago, took our yard to below ground zero, landscaped, added pavers in a long path. The stuff is everywhere...and, yes, it crops up between the pavers as well as in the beds. Actually it's rather pretty, but I don't have a clue how some of you are containing it in the clumps I see in these pix. So beware. It loves our heat & humidity.

I just love this plant. It really does look very delicate, but is a tough little devil! It's very neat and keeps a nice shape. I keep a lot of it around my pool area and other than a few dropped seeds growing between pavers, it's just a great addition! It's a beautiful color also and accents darker plants.

This tough little plant is surprisingly beautiful and delicate when planted in pots. The fresh foliage is bright green. It comes up unexpectedly in moist shady areas in central Florida. It is commonly found under benches in greenhouses. The tiny flowers are insignificant.

This plant is very ornamental and delicate at first look, but grows spontaneously on cracks on rocks, where little organic soil and moisture are acumulated. However, it´s not considered invasive, since it needs very specific conditions to expand its territory by itself. Cultivated on beds, it behaves well, and adds a nice texture to it..