Native Plants

Plant Database

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Brundage, Stephanie

Pilea pumila

Pilea pumila (L.) A. Gray

Canadian Clearweed, Clearweed

Urticaceae (Nettle Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: PIPU2

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

A small, translucent-stemmed annual with short, curved clusters of inconspicuous, greenish-white flowers in the leaf axils. Plant lacks stinging hairs.

The distinctive clear stem, soft and with a watery look, is responsible for the common name. It is restricted to shady areas, where it may form a continuous cover over moist soil. P. fontana, very similar but with dull black "seeds," occurs from western New York south to Florida, west to Nebraska and North Dakota.

From the Image Gallery

4 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Annual
Habit: Herb
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Fruit Type: Achene
Size Notes: Up to about 28 inches tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Green , Brown
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , SD , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV
Canada: NB , NS , ON , PE , QC
Native Habitat: Moist, shaded places.

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	FACW				FACW	FAC		FACW	FACW

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

Bibliography

Bibref 1294 - The Midwestern Native Garden: Native Alternatives to Nonnative Flowers and Plants An Illustrated Guide (2011) Adelman, Charlotte and Schwartz, Bernard L.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Pilea pumila in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Pilea pumila in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Pilea pumila

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-05-23
Research By: TWC Staff

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