Coin-shaped leaves add a cool twist to any indoor garden—they catch your eye and make you smile every time you look their way. I fell for these unique plants the moment I saw their perfectly round leaves, like tiny green treasures.
They’re surprisingly easy to care for, and they bring a fresh vibe to any room. Over time, I’ve learned which ones thrive best and how to keep them looking their best.
Let’s explore what makes these leafy gems so special and how to keep them thriving inside.
1. Pilea Peperomioides
Often called the Chinese Money Plant, this popular houseplant features perfectly round leaves on long stems that bounce with every breeze. Native to southern China, Pileas prefer bright, indirect light and only need watering when the top inch of soil feels dry.
Their compact size makes them perfect for desktops and small spaces. Pileas are known for producing numerous baby plants around their base, making them easy to propagate and share with friends – a gift that keeps on giving!
2. String of Coins
Trailing gracefully from hanging baskets, the String of Coins (Xerosicyos danguyi) showcases silvery-green circular leaves along thin vines. This Madagascar native stands out with its succulent-like qualities, storing water in those thick, penny-shaped leaves.
Give it bright, filtered light and let the soil dry completely between waterings. Unlike many trailing plants, this one grows quite slowly, making it low-maintenance for busy plant parents who want something unique without constant pruning.
3. Peperomia Polybotrya
Nicknamed the Raindrop Peperomia, this charming plant features thick, glossy leaves shaped like perfect teardrops or coins. The dark green tops and lighter undersides create a beautiful contrast when light shines through them.
This compact beauty thrives in medium to bright indirect light and prefers to dry out between waterings. Its semi-succulent nature means it can bounce back from occasional neglect, making it ideal for forgetful waterers or those new to plant parenthood.
4. Nasturtium
Though typically grown outdoors, nasturtiums adapt beautifully to indoor life when given enough light. Their perfectly circular, lily pad-like leaves create a stunning display even before their edible flowers appear. The leaves have a unique water-repellent surface where droplets bead up like quicksilver.
Place them in your sunniest window and water moderately. As a bonus, both the peppery leaves and vibrant flowers are edible, making this plant both decorative and functional for kitchen gardeners with limited space.
5. Stephania Erecta
A true conversation starter, Stephania Erecta grows from a round, potato-like caudex that sits above the soil. During growing season, slender stems emerge topped with perfectly circular leaves that resemble green coins balanced on thin wires.
This plant requires a distinct dormancy period where it loses all leaves. Don’t panic when this happens! Keep the caudex dry during dormancy and resume watering only when new growth appears in spring. Its unusual growth habit makes it a prized collector’s item.
6. Hoya Obovata
Among the many Hoya varieties, Obovata stands out with its thick, circular leaves speckled with silver flecks. This slow-growing trailing plant eventually produces clusters of star-shaped, fragrant flowers that smell like chocolate or vanilla in the evening.
Hoyas store water in their succulent-like leaves, so allow the soil to dry completely between waterings. They’re incredibly long-lived – some specimens have been passed down through generations, continuing to thrive with minimal care for decades.
7. Dischidia Nummularia
Commonly called String of Nickels, this epiphytic plant produces cascades of tiny, perfectly round leaves along thread-like stems. In nature, it grows on trees rather than in soil, collecting nutrients from air and rainwater.
For best results, plant in an orchid mix or very light, airy soil. This humidity-lover makes a perfect bathroom plant where it can enjoy the steam from your shower. Its button-like leaves stay small, making it ideal for terrariums or tiny hanging planters.
8. Eucalyptus Silver Dollar
While typically grown outdoors, dwarf varieties of Silver Dollar Eucalyptus can thrive indoors with proper care. The silvery-blue, perfectly round juvenile leaves look like coins strung along the branches and emit that classic eucalyptus fragrance when touched.
Place in your brightest window and rotate regularly for even growth. The aromatic oils in the leaves can help clear the air and provide a spa-like atmosphere. Cut stems last for weeks in water, making this plant both decorative and practical.
9. Pachira Aquatica
Money Trees feature palmate leaves with multiple coin-shaped leaflets arranged like the fingers of a hand. According to feng shui principles, these plants bring good fortune and positive energy to your home or office space.
Often sold with braided trunks, they prefer bright, indirect light and moderate watering. The distinctive round leaflets flutter with air movement, creating a gentle animation in your space. Despite their tropical origin, they adapt well to average indoor humidity.
10. Ficus Umbellata
Less common than its fiddle-leaf cousin, Ficus Umbellata features large, circular leaves with prominent veining patterns that radiate from the center like bicycle spokes. The glossy, deep green foliage creates a dramatic tropical statement in any room.
This ficus appreciates consistent conditions – steady light, temperature, and watering schedule. New leaves unfurl in a beautiful bronzy-pink color before maturing to green. Though slow-growing, its impressive coin-shaped leaves make it worth the patience.
11. Lunaria Annua
Better known as the Money Plant or Silver Dollar Plant, Lunaria is typically grown outdoors but can thrive as a temporary indoor plant. After flowering, it produces flat, translucent seed pods that resemble silver coins, perfect for dried arrangements.
Grow in a cool, bright location and provide good air circulation. Though technically biennial, it often self-seeds readily. The dried seed pods maintain their silvery appearance for years, making them a long-lasting decorative element even after the plant completes its lifecycle.
12. Pannenkoekenplant
With a Dutch name that translates to “pancake plant,” this Pilea species (Pilea peperomioides) earns its nickname from the perfectly round, slightly cupped leaves that resemble tiny pancakes or coins. The leaves appear to float above thin, wiry stems.
Bright, indirect light brings out the best leaf color and shape. When happy, the plant produces tiny white flowers and offsets that pop up from the soil around the mother plant. These babies can be separated and potted up once they develop their own roots.
13. Crassula Ovata ‘Hobbit’
A quirky variation of the classic jade plant, ‘Hobbit’ jade features tubular leaves that curl back on themselves, creating coin-like circles when viewed from above. The leaf tips often display a reddish tinge when exposed to bright light.
Like most succulents, this plant thrives on neglect rather than too much attention. Water sparingly and provide plenty of light. The unusual leaf shape makes it an excellent choice for fairy gardens or whimsical indoor landscapes where its miniature tree-like form creates visual interest.
14. Plectranthus Verticillatus
Swedish Ivy (despite not being an ivy at all) cascades beautifully with its scalloped, coin-shaped leaves arranged along trailing stems. The fleshy, slightly succulent foliage has a pleasing texture and subtle sheen that catches the light.
This easy-care plant tolerates lower light conditions than many others on this list. It grows quickly, making it perfect for hanging baskets where the stems can spill over the edges. Occasional pinching back encourages fuller growth and prevents the plant from becoming too leggy.
15. Peperomia Hope
A charming hybrid between two peperomia species, Peperomia Hope features tiny, coin-shaped leaves stacked along trailing stems. The succulent-like foliage has a subtle gray-green color and slightly cupped shape that catches light beautifully.
This compact grower stays relatively small, making it perfect for terrariums or dish gardens. Its drought-tolerant nature means you can forget to water occasionally without disaster. When happy, the dense foliage creates a lush, beaded appearance reminiscent of a string of pearls but with coin-shaped leaves.
16. Adiantum Raddianum
Maidenhair fern features delicate, fan-shaped fronds with tiny, coin-like leaflets arranged along black, wire-thin stems. The contrast between the black stems and bright green circular leaflets creates a floating, ethereal appearance unlike any other houseplant.
These ferns crave humidity and consistent moisture. Consider placing on a pebble tray or in a bathroom. Despite their delicate appearance, they can thrive indoors when their moisture needs are met. The dancing movement of the fronds adds a gentle animation to still indoor spaces.
17. Zamioculcas Zamiifolia
While standard ZZ plants have oval leaflets, the rare ‘Zenzi’ variety features compact, nearly circular leaflets that resemble stacked coins along the stems. This slow-growing variant maintains the classic ZZ plant’s virtually indestructible nature but with more distinctive foliage.
Perfect for low-light corners where other plants struggle, ZZ plants store water in their thick stems and roots. Their glossy, waxy leaves rarely collect dust and maintain their fresh appearance with minimal care. This plant quietly thrives while you’re busy attending to more demanding houseplants.
18. Cotyledon Orbiculata
Commonly called Pig’s Ear, this succulent showcases thick, powdery blue-green leaves that form perfect circles or slightly elongated coins. The edges often develop an attractive red outline when exposed to bright light, adding a decorative touch.
This drought-tolerant plant thrives in sandy, well-draining soil and bright conditions. In summer, it may produce bell-shaped orange or red flowers on tall stalks. The powdery coating on the leaves serves as natural sunscreen and gives the plant its distinctive appearance.
19. Fittonia Albivenis
While traditional Nerve Plants have oval leaves, some compact varieties develop almost perfectly round, coin-shaped foliage. The dramatic veining patterns in white, pink, or red create striking contrast against the green background of each leaf.
These tropical beauties crave high humidity and consistent moisture. They make excellent terrarium subjects where their low-growing habit creates a beautiful groundcover effect. When happy, Fittonias form dense mats of colorful foliage that brighten up any indoor garden arrangement.
20. Maranta Leuconeura
The Prayer Plant earns its spot on this list with its distinctive round-oval leaves that fold upward at night like hands in prayer. The coin-like foliage features stunning patterns of dark green, light green, and often red veins that resemble natural artwork.
This interactive plant changes position throughout the day, with leaves lying flat during daylight and folding up at night. Marantas appreciate humid environments and filtered light. Their dramatic leaf movements make them fascinating to watch, almost like having a living sculpture that changes form with the daily light cycle.