Quercus

Artillery Plant

Pilea microphylla

Not native to Kentucky

Ecological relationships

Who uses this plant?

4CaterpillarsGenus host records with ranges including KY

Genus host records with ranges including KY · Pilea

  • Cosmopterix pulchrimellaBeautiful Cosmopterix Moth, Chamber's Cosmopterix
  • Heterophleps refusariaThree-Patch Bigwing
  • Spodoptera eridaniaSouthern Armyworm Moth
  • Spodoptera ornithogalliYellow-Striped Armyworm Moth, Cotton Cutworm
Shropshire & Tallamy 2025, Lepidoptera of North America north of Mexico, ZooKeys 1261 (ODbL)
—BeesSoutheastern regional records
—Specialist beesPollen specialists
—BirdsRecorded genus food-resource interactions; not a state feeding claim
Growing and identification

Plant details

Family
Urticaceae
Hardiness
Zones 11a–12b
Soil pH
Acidic to alkaline
Flower color
Green

Safety has not been reviewed for this plant; check toxicity and thorns before planting.

Growing sources and scope
Also known as

Artillery Plant; Artillery Weed

Conservation status

Kentucky rankSNR
Global rankG5
KY statusNot verified
Federal statusNot verified

Conservation source Global and federal source

Native alternatives

Find natives for your garden

Sources