Clearweed

Pilea pumila (py-LEE-uh POO-mil-uh)

Family: Urticaceae Native

Native

Canadaian Clearweed is in the nettle family.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 28 attributes.

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Often confused with Boehmeria cylindrica Urtica chamaedryoides Urtica dioica

Fills a similar niche Platanus occidentalis Selaginella kraussiana Zinnia peruviana

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions

Light: Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture: High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil drainage: Moist | Occasional Flooding

Form & Appearance

Leaf color: Green
Leaf type: Simple
Leaf arrangement: Opposite
Leaf shape: Ovate
Leaf margin: Serrate
Hairs present: No
Leaf detail: Dark green, simple, opposite, ovate, hairless leaves serrate margins. Three major veins with netted side veins. Undersides are almost white. Petioles are 1" or longer.
Flower color: Gold/Yellow; Green; White
Flower form: Raceme
Flower detail: Wind-pollianted flowers form from mid-summer to fall in racemes 1" long in the leaf axils. Petal-less lowers are green-white-yellow less than 1/8"
Bloom time: Fall; Summer
Fruit type: Achene
Fruit detail: Tiny green with black stripes achenes spread by wind.

Wildlife & Ecology

Native status: Native
Origin: Canada, Central U.S.A.

Food & Medicine

Fruit type: Achene

Landscape Use

Landscape location: Woodland
Garden tags: #wind pollinated #wind dispersed seeds #non-toxic for cats #non-toxic for horses #non-toxic for dogs

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.

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