The illustrated growing guide
Money Tree
Pachira aquatica
Family Malvaceae
Est. zones 10-12
The braided-trunk 'lucky' plant of feng shui and gift shops — genuinely easy: bright indirect light, water when the top inch dries, done. The braid is several young trunks woven together as they grow. Pet-safe and forgiving; leaf drop and yellowing almost always mean too much water.
Bright indirect
Moderate water
Moderate growth
None winter chillI
Overview
Will money tree suit your garden, and what goes wrong.
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 at a glance
Common money tree problems
- Spider Mites
- Scale
- Fungus Gnats
- Root Rot (overwatering)
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Growing
Light, water, soil, propagation and the season’s jobs.
How to grow money tree: light, water & soil
How to plant & propagate money tree
When to spray money tree
Growing season. Wipe leaves; let it dry between waterings.
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The year
What money tree asks for, month by month.
The money tree year, month by month
PruneWhat each band means
- Prune — shape it now — cuts heal cleanly and structure is visible.
The money tree year as text
- Jan quiet month
- Feb quiet month
- Mar pruning
- Apr pruning
- May pruning
- Jun quiet month
- Jul quiet month
- Aug quiet month
- Sep quiet month
- Oct quiet month
- Nov quiet month
- Dec quiet month
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.
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Ecology & uses
What it does for the garden, and what it is grown for.
Money Tree in the garden system
What money tree is grown for
✓ Not known to be toxicSafe for pets
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.
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Cultivars
Named varieties of money tree, ruled as a catalogue.
Best money tree varieties & cultivars
Braided-trunk form (the classic); single-stem
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Sources & plant ID
Where the care distinctions come from, and how the plant is filed.
Research basis
Sources behind this profile
No extension citations are attached to money treeyet. The care figures below come from the library's own catalogue rather than a traced primary source.
Plant ID
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Where to buy
Third-party nurseries — not Story Thyme Farms.
Third-party nurseries, not Story Thyme Farms. Prices are theirs.
Story Thyme Farms may earn a small commission from these links, at no cost to you — it never changes what we recommend.
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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.
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Elsewhere
Where money tree sits in the library.
Monstera
Golden Pothos
Snake Plant
Heartleaf Philodendron