Money Tree
Pachira aquatica
A tropical tree often sold with a braided trunk and a crown of hand-shaped leaves, popular as a feng shui symbol of prosperity. It is easy-going and low-maintenance.
- Light
- Bright indirect light
- Water
- When top inch dries
- Difficulty
- Easy
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Overview
The Money Tree, Pachira aquatica, is a tropical wetland tree widely sold as an indoor plant with several young trunks braided together and topped by glossy, palm-like leaves. In feng shui it is considered a bringer of luck and wealth, which drives its popularity as a gift.
It is undemanding and grows steadily in bright indirect light. While it can become a large tree in the wild, indoor specimens stay compact and tidy.
How to identify it
Recognize it by a braided trunk and palmate leaves with five or more leaflets radiating from a central point.
- Leaves: palmately compound, glossy green, usually 5 to 7 leaflets like a hand
- Trunk: often braided from several supple young stems
- Habit: upright; 1 to 2 m indoors, much larger outdoors
- Flowers and fruit: showy flowers with long stamens and large seed pods on mature outdoor trees (rare indoors)
Care & growing
Give bright indirect light and rotate it occasionally for even growth.
- Water: when the top inch of soil dries; despite its swampy origins, indoor plants rot if kept soggy
- Soil: well-draining potting mix
- Humidity: moderate to high preferred
- Temperature: 18 to 27 C; keep above 10 C
- Feeding: balanced fertilizer monthly in spring and summer
- Propagation: from seed or stem cuttings
Habitat & origin
Native to the swamps and wetlands of Central and South America, from Mexico to northern Brazil, where it grows along riverbanks and floodplains, tolerating wet feet. It is now cultivated worldwide as a houseplant and gift plant, especially across East and Southeast Asia for its prosperity symbolism.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the money tree's trunk braided?
Growers braid several flexible young trunks together while they are pliable, both for looks and for its prosperity symbolism.
Why are the leaves yellowing and dropping?
The most common cause is overwatering. Let the top inch of soil dry before watering and ensure good drainage.
How much light does it need?
Bright indirect light is ideal. Too little light leads to leggy growth and leaf loss; harsh direct sun can scorch the leaves.
Money Tree guides
In-depth guides for identifying, growing, and caring for Money Tree.
How to Care for Money Tree
The Money Tree is an easy houseplant for bright indirect light; water when the top inch dries and it forgives beginners with its glossy braided form.
Money Tree Identification Guide
Identify the Money Tree (Pachira aquatica) by its hand-shaped clusters of five glossy leaflets and its signature braided green trunk.
Money Tree identified by the community
Real specimens identified with Plant Identifier.
