Money Tree
Pachira aquatica
Family Malvaceae
Luck you can put in a pot — money tree carries its feng shui reputation on a braided trunk topped with glossy, hand-shaped leaves, growing into a genuine indoor tree of three to six feet. The braid is real craftsmanship: several young trunks woven together as they grew.
Behind the folklore is a thoroughly practical houseplant: pet-safe, forgiving, and happy in an ordinary bright room, which is exactly why it makes such a reliable gift. Whether the fortune arrives or not, the tree keeps its end of the bargain — start one for someone you like.
Bright indirect
Moderate water
Moderate growth
None winter chill
From the print shop
Growing money tree? Hang it.
Our Plant Library collection carries money tree — Pachira aquatica, print Nº 309, “Money Tree.”
526 designsfrom $12.99white or black backgroundmatte poster, unframed
Will it thrive where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what money tree actually needs.
Hardy inZones 10-12Money Tree · Common problems
Common money tree problems
Pests
3 problems on file
Diseases
1 problem on file
- Root Rot (overwatering)
Money Tree · Growing & propagation
Growing money tree
- Light
- Bright indirect
Tolerates medium
- Water
- Moderate
Dry the top inch; yellow leaves = overwatering
Soil- Well-drained mix · pH 6.0 - 7.5
Fertilizer- Monthly spring-summer
Pruning- Spring
Prune to shape; the braided trunks are trained from several young plants.
Spacing- One per pot
How to plant & propagate money tree
- Propagate
- Stem/leaf cuttings, division, or pups
Money Tree · Seasonal care & spray guidance
The money tree growing playbook
When to spray money tree
Growing season. Wipe leaves; let it dry between waterings.
Money Tree · Calculators & field guides
A little help in the garden.
Money Tree · Yearly calendar
The money tree year, month by month
Jan
No calendar activity is listed for this month.
PrunePruneMarch to May
What each band means
- Prune — shape it now — cuts heal cleanly and structure is visible.
These are the species' typical months — expect them a few weeks earlier in warm zones and later in cold ones. Watch the plant, not just the calendar.
Money Tree · Ecology & uses
Ecology & uses
Pachira aquatica
Money Tree in the garden system
- Moisture
- Facultative / average
Deer- Browsed
Protect young plants
Origin- Introduced
What money tree is grown for
✓ Not known to be toxicSafe for pets
Use- Gifts
- Use
- Bright rooms
- Use
- Pet-safe
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
Money Tree · Varieties & cultivars
Choosing a money tree variety
Braided-trunk form (the classic); single-stem
Sources & plant identity
Know what you’re growing.
See where the knowledge comes from.
Money Tree
Pachira aquatica
The plant, at a glance.
- Botanical name
- Pachira aquatica
- Plant family
- Malvaceae
- Growth habit
- Houseplant · Perennial
- Origin
- Introduced
- USDA plant symbol
- PAAQ2
- Invasive risk
- Low
- Other names
- Pachira aquatica (Bombax glabra)
Hardiness, size and timing vary with your cultivar, soil and climate.
Rooted in research.
University extension research, brought together with hands-on growing experience at Story Thyme Farms.
for Money Tree
Research from these sources
Publisher marks identify sources, not sponsorship or endorsement.
Questions
Money Tree questions, answered straight.
Is money tree safe for kids and pets?
Money Tree is commonly eaten and isn't considered toxic, but "commonly eaten" isn't a guarantee for any particular person or animal — allergies, quantity, and which part you eat all matter. One caveat on this one: Safe for pets. Never eat a plant you haven't positively identified, and check with a vet before letting pets or livestock graze anything new.
How do you propagate money tree?
Stem/leaf cuttings, division, or pups.
Elsewhere
Where money tree sits in the library.
Monstera
Golden Pothos
Snake Plant
Heartleaf Philodendron