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Money Tree Meaning: Good Luck or Something Else?

Did you know the Money tree you own has fantastic meaning in Feng Shui and symbolizes affluence and nobility to anyone who cares for it?

Generally, the meaning of placing a Money tree at home is to bring good luck and positive energy. Moreover, placing the Money tree in the office brings prosperity and wealth. Its large leaves will evoke wealth and good fortune until you keep it healthy and alive.

Read on to find out the symbolic and practical benefits of growing a Money tree and where you can find new healthy plants.

Overview of Money Tree

The broadleaf evergreen Money tree is native to Central and South America, but the first ever ornamental Money tree was cultivated in Taiwan.

A Taiwanese truck driver grew it as a Bonsai plant in the 1980s, quickly gaining popularity among the newly found admirers.

Today, exotic plant sellers worldwide are selling the Money tree as a dynamic Feng shui houseplant.

Here is an overview of the Money Tree plant.

IndicatorIdentity
Scientific NamePachira aquatica
Common NameMalabar chestnut
French peanut
Guiana chestnut, Provision tree
Saba nut
Monguba (Brazil)
Pumpo (Guatemala)
NativeCentral and South America
FamilyMalvaceae
USDA Zone10-11
Plant TypeTropical wetland tree
Growth Size8 feet (indoors)
20-30 feet (outdoors)
Grown ForFen shui properties
Health benefits
Ornamental leaves
Braided stems
Foliage TypeBright green palm looking leaves
Leaf size5-9 inches long
4-5 inches wide
FloweringYellowish-white, with curly petals and 3-4" long red-tipped stamens
Flowering SeasonSummer
FruitingFootball shaped seeds pods reaching 12 inches in length
AvailabilitySold through exotic plant sellers
ToxicityNon-toxic to cats or dogs

Although native to the Americas, the Money tree has traveled thousands of miles to Taiwan and East Asian countries as a prized possession and sold for hundreds of dollars.

Money Tree or Money Plant: Confusion Solved!

Many novice gardeners confuse a Money plant with a Money tree plant because both plants signify the same purpose – good fortune.

The Money plant is a Pothos species that grows like a vine with bushier leaves and thinner stems. On the other hand, the Money tree boasts sturdier stems that grow bigger with the plant’s growth.
Money Tree vs Pilea Peperomoides vs Golden Pothos
Pilea Peperomoides and Golden Pothos are also called the Money plant.

However, they share some traits as both houseplants grown indoors possess Feng shui benefits.

Most gardeners in South Asia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia highly praise the plant, which may explain why they are often interchangeable.

Here are the fundamental differences between the two favorite houseplants.

Money TreeMoney Plant (Pothos)
Scientific name: Pachira AquaticaScientific name: Epipremnum aureum
It belongs to a Malvaceae family native to South America It belongs to Pothos family native to Southeast Asia
The indoor grown Money tree is a dwarf species often grown as the ornamental plantIndoor or outdoors, Money Plant is grown as a vining plant
The leaves get up 8-9" long and slenderThe leaves retain the signature heartshape and boast size of about 3-5" long
Leaves grow in a cluster of 4-8 or more leaves at the stem's endLeaves will grow evenly throughout the stem
Money tree grow in a cluster and may slowly retain their full size.Money plant is a rapidly growing houseplant and manage to grow few feets within a year.

Similarly, Jade Plants and Chinese Money Plants like Pothos are often interchangeably used with Money Trees but are distinct plant species.

Money Tree: Meaning, Legend & Symbolism

If you have met a Money Tree admirer, you must have about the folktale surrounding the origin of the plant.

The name “Money tree” comes from popular folklore about a poor man who prayed for money but was given this odd-looking plant instead.

He took it home as an omen and made money selling plants propagated from its seeds.

However, with time, gardeners begin desiring Money trees to decorate their homes and offices, giving rise to its demand.

The elongated leaves, shaped like the Japanese bronze 100 Mon coin from the nineteenth century, give the impression that they represent money.

Feng shui, the famous Chinese geomancy, even adopted the plant as one of the beneficial houseplants.

According to them, the plant positively affects the owner’s life and alters three different afflictions.

The Money tree represents the five Feng Shui elements in balance: wood, water, fire, metal, and earth.

BenefitsProperties
Good LuckIt is often added to home at the beginning of a new year to bring good luck or gifted as a housewarming present.
WealthIt is often grown in offices or southeast areas of the house to attract wealth and fortune.
ProsperityIt is placed in the east area of the house to bring good health and prosperity.

Many growers associate the plant’s sturdy stem and overgrown foliage with strength and power.

Even, Bonsai practitioners take up the challenge of creating miniature Money trees at home to display their patience and concentration.

Spiritual & Traditional Meaning of Money Tree

The Money tree is one of the favorite Feng Shui plants, and most regard the plant as a fortune-bearing oriental houseplant.

However, each geographical region where it has been a popular plant associates it with many things, including prosperity, luck, positive energy, and protection.

Let us delve into the spiritual and folk meaning of Money Tree.

  • Good Luck: Many Southeast Asia and China consider it a plant that brings good fortune. Therefore, you must maintain the plant to keep it looking healthy.
  • Prosperity: Growers in the East Asian culture often gift it in business and personal affairs as it is believed to enhance prosperity and abundance of wealth.
  • Positive Energy: The large, green leaves of the Money tree cleanse air-borne toxins while boosting oxygen contents and releasing positivity.
  • Protection: The Money tree plant protects its owner and surrounding areas by annihilating misfortunes, heartbreaks, illnesses, and other accidental dangers.

Money Tree Meaning in Household & Business

Place the plant in the “Money area” of the home or office to bring prosperity and wealth.

Here is how it will fare when you keep them in different locations of your home and office.

1. Money Tree Meaning in Household

You can keep Money Tree at home to bring positive energy, good fortune, and balance.

Feng shui indicates that placing a money tree in your home balances the chi energies governing your finances and luck.

  • Place the plant in the southeast of your home to bring wealth.
  • When running a home office, place it near the southeast corner of windows to bring in luck.
  • Introduce plants in the room of someone sick to help cure them sooner.
Money Tree plant
Place Money Tree plant at south-east area of your home to bring more fortune.

2. Meaning in Office or Business

Business owners and executives often exchange Money trees whenever the other party opens a new business, expands its services, or undertakes a new challenge.

Exchanging the plant is an expression of well-wishing for good luck and prosperity and boosts the arrival abundance of wealth and prosperity.

  • Retailers or restaurateurs should keep the plant near their shop entrance.
  • Those dealing with money should keep the plant close to their cash register.
  • Corporations often use Money trees in the lobby or traffic near the entrance or reception.
  • When kept in the office, consider placing it in the southeast corner.
  • The plant should be located near manufacturing units, accounting departments, or factories.

Money Tree Meaning Based on Numbers of Leaves

The cluster of leaves on the Money tree’s branch differs in number.

The branches may have four or five leaves at most, making a branch with six or more leaves a rarity and considered a sign of great fortune.

No. of LeavesSignificance
5 LeavesThey represents five elements of balance: earth, fire, water, wind, and metal.
6 LeavesThey are believed to bring luck.
7 LeavesThey are rumored to bring extra luck, such as for lottery.
8 LeavesThey are very rare and priceless.

Money Tree on Sale

Although Money tree plants are easily found in many nurseries, you may fail to find one with braided branches.

Look at the exotic plant sellers worldwide to find some of the best-looking ornamental Money trees.

Buying OptionsDelivery
EtsyWithin 3-5 days
BloomscapeWithin 2-5 days
AmazonWithin 5-8 days
Lively RootWithin 1-2 days (Express) and 4-7 days (Standard)

To Conclude

Most old folks suggest you maintain your Money Tree plant to pass it down to your children so they can enjoy good fortune and luck.

So better provide your Money Tree with direct and indirect sunlight and rotate it regularly for even light distribution and water them scarcely every three weeks.

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