What Are Money Plants?
Money plants are a common name for dozens of different plant species associated with wealth, prosperity, and good fortune. In feng shui and other spiritual practices, money plants are used as living symbols of abundance and prosperity to attract positive energy and luck.[1] Though the plants themselves come in many varieties, shapes and sizes, they share a reputation for encouraging financial success and generating wealth energy when placed appropriately in the home or office.
The use of certain plants to promote prosperity is found in many cultures, especially in Asia. In Chinese culture, plants like jade, bamboo and citrus trees are commonly integrated into feng shui practices to enhance money luck.[2] The idea is that surrounding yourself with living things connected to positive concepts like growth and wealth will bring about similar energies in your own life. For this reason, money plants make popular houseplants and gifts thought to invite fortune, cash flow and general prosperity into one’s environment.
Why Use Plants in Feng Shui?
Bringing plants into the home and office provides numerous feng shui benefits. Plants reconnect us to nature and represent the wood element which signifies growth, flexibility, and kindness [1]. As living things, plants radiate healthy life energy known as ‘chi’ or ‘qi’ which promotes vigor and vitality. The wood energy provided by plants balances the elemental energies within a space and helps establish harmony. Plants purify the air by absorbing toxins and releasing fresh oxygen. Their presence improves mood and reduces stress and anxiety. Incorporating the right plants into a feng shui design brings prosperity, creates a peaceful ambiance, and channels positive energy flow [2]. Strategically placing certain plant species in key areas amplifies their symbolic meaning and auspicious effects.
[2] https://m.facebook.com/people/FENG-SHUI-Byvocation/100063534133810/
Pilea Peperomioides
Known for its round, coin-shaped leaves, Pilea peperomioides (also called Chinese Money Plant or Coin Plant) is a popular houseplant associated with good fortune and prosperity in feng shui. Its botanical name comes from the Greek word “peperi,” meaning pepper, due to the resemblance of its leaves to peppercorns.
Native to southern China, Pilea peperomioides is an evergreen perennial that typically grows up to 30 cm (12 in) tall and broad in its natural habitat. Indoors, its mature size is usually closer to 10-15 cm (4-6 in) when grown in a small pot or container. The fleshy leaves are vibrant green, almost perfectly circular, and arranged in pairs along creeping stems. Tiny white pom-pom flowers occasionally bloom in summer.
According to feng shui principles, the round coin-like foliage is said to symbolize wealth and bring good financial luck when placed near the entrance of a home or workspace. Many Chinese businesses traditionally have a Pilea plant by their front door. Its low maintenance and compact size also make it well-suited as a houseplant in most indoor environments. (https://www.lovelylyngsplantboutique204.com)
Jade Plant (Crassula ovata)
The jade plant, also called the money plant or money tree, is a succulent plant species native to South Africa that is a popular feng shui symbol for prosperity. Its scientific name is Crassula ovata. The jade plant has thick woody stems and shiny, rounded, jade-green leaves that resemble coins. This makes it a perfect feng shui money plant
According to feng shui principles, the jade plant represents growth and renewal. Its green color and rounded leaves symbolize energy and wealth. The jade plant is associated with the wood feng shui element, which promotes steady growth and flexibility. It is thought to generate positive chi energy that circulates gently throughout the room.
Ideal feng shui money plant placement for the jade plant is near the entryway or front door, in the southeast corner of the home or a room, or in the office. The jade plant thrives in bright, indirect light indoors. It also does well in outdoor gardens and patios. Keep the soil slightly moist but not soaked.
Pachira Aquatica
Pachira Aquatica is commonly known as the money tree or money plant. It has a braided trunk and is very popular in feng shui for attracting wealth and prosperity. The money tree is thought to bring good luck and fortune when placed in the southeast corner of a home or office (Peace Love Feng Shui). In feng shui, the five braided trunks represent the five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, water) and the five blessings of life (health, wealth, longevity, happiness, harmony).
The Pachira aquatica is native to Central and South America. It is an easy to care for indoor plant that can grow up to 10 feet tall in its native habitat but is usually kept much smaller when grown in containers. This plant prefers bright, indirect light and moderate watering. The money tree grows best in well-draining soil and appreciates occasional misting. Slow growth and tightly bound braided trunks are signs of a healthy, well-cared for Pachira aquatica.
Golden Pothos
Golden pothos, with the botanical name Epipremnum aureum, is a popular houseplant known for its heart-shaped satiny leaves. This easy-to-grow vine is one of the most popular plants used in feng shui arrangements.
Native to the Solomon Islands, golden pothos is an aggressive climber in its natural jungle habitat. But when grown as a houseplant, it has a trailing habit rather than a climbing one. Its satiny heart-shaped leaves can grow up to 10 inches long and are splashed with yellow or white variegation [1].
The golden pothos is an extremely hardy houseplant that grows well in a variety of conditions. It can thrive in both bright and low-light conditions. It is tolerant of occasional neglect in its watering and feeding schedule. This makes it an ideal plant for beginners as well as seasoned plant parents [2].
In feng shui, the golden pothos is recommended for its powerful energy. Its trailing vine-like nature mimics the energy flow of winding water. This stimulates the flow of money and prosperity. Place golden pothos plants in the wealth area of your home or office to enhance financial luck.
[1] https://fengshuilounge.net/2022/09/30/take-a-sneak-peek-at-the-8-feng-shui-super-easy-plants/
Swiss Cheese Plant
The Swiss cheese plant, also known by its scientific name Monstera, is a tropical plant known for its large, heart-shaped leaves with signature splits and holes that resemble Swiss cheese. Monstera is a genus of approximately 50 species of flowering plants native to tropical regions of the Americas.
The most popular Monstera species for indoor cultivation is Monstera deliciosa, commonly called the “Swiss cheese plant” for its fenestrated leaves. Other Monstera species such as Monstera adansonii (often called “Swiss cheese vine”), Monstera siltepecana, and Monstera obliqua are also gaining popularity as houseplants.
Monstera plants add a touch of the tropics to indoor spaces like homes and offices. The large split leaves create a dramatic, sculptural effect. Monstera’s natural climbing growth habit also makes it ideal for climbing up moss poles or cascading from high shelves. According to feng shui principles, the holes and splits in Monstera leaves represent good fortune and prosperity flowing in.
Check out this Monstera care guide for tips on caring for these tropical beauties: https://www.tiktok.com/discover/monstera-feng-shui
Silver Satin
Silver satin (Scindapsus pictus), also known as satin pothos, is an easy-care vine with shiny silvery leaves. It is known as a “money plant” in feng shui because its lush foliage symbolizes the wood element, promoting vitality and financial growth. As a vining plant, it also represents flexibility and adaptability.
Native to Southeast Asia, silver satin is an ideal indoor plant that thrives in bright, indirect light. Its heart-shaped leaves add a touch of lushness and sheen to any space. This low-maintenance houseplant requires little care beyond occasional watering and pruning.
In feng shui, silver satin is best placed in the east or southeast areas of a home or workspace to encourage new beginnings and nurture prosperity energy. Its vibrant leaves can also add life to stagnant areas that need revitalization. Avoid placing this plant in the southwest feng shui bagua area, as too much wood element here can trigger loss of money.
Silver Dollar Vine (Xerosicyos danguyi)
The silver dollar vine (Xerosicyos danguyi) is a unique trailing succulent that is said to attract wealth and prosperity in feng shui. It gets its name from its small, round, silvery-green leaves which resemble coins. This plant is sometimes called the money plant, coin leaf plant, coin ivy, or string of coins.
Native to Madagascar, the silver dollar vine grows long creeping stems and tends to be a quick growing vine. It can be grown indoors or outdoors in warm climates. Indoors, it does best in bright light like a south or west facing window. It requires less frequent watering than many houseplants. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings to prevent rot. The silver dollar vine propagates easily from stem cuttings [1].
In feng shui, the round coin-shaped leaves of the silver dollar vine are thought to symbolize money and bring fortune. This makes it a popular feng shui money plant. The flexible vine represents the wood element and promotes flexibility and flow. Position this feng shui plant in the wealth corner or front entrance of your home or office to activate finances and welcome prosperity [2]. Let it trail from a mantle, shelf, or hanger where its leaves can be visible. Keep the plant lush and growing to maintain its lucky energy.
[1] https://succulentcity.com/xerosicyos-danguyi/
[2] https://www.thespruce.com/get-to-know-the-feng-shui-money-plant-1275013
Lucky Bamboo
A popular feng shui plant, Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana) gets its name from the cascading stalks symbolizing prosperity. Native to Africa and Southeast Asia, Lucky Bamboo has become a staple houseplant across the world thanks to its reputation for bringing good fortune according to feng shui principles [1]. The stalks can grow to various heights, from a few inches to several feet tall, giving it a unique cascading appearance.
According to feng shui, the number of stalks determines the luck and prosperity it’s said to bring – with three stalks representing happiness, five stalks representing wealth, six stalks representing health, seven stalks representing knowledge, and eight stalks representing growth [2]. With its cascading green stalks and auspicious symbolism, it’s no wonder Lucky Bamboo remains such a popular feng shui plant for promoting success.
