Plants
Money Tree
Pachira aquatica · Malvaceae
The money tree is one of the most popular gift plants of all: its artfully braided trunk, crowned by glossy, hand-shaped leaves, makes it an eye-catcher — and its reputation as a bringer of luck and prosperity makes it the perfect housewarming gift. On top of that it is pleasingly easy to care for and non-toxic to pets. We source our money trees in sturdy nursery quality via the Veiling Rhein-Maas.
- Light
- Bright to semi-shaded, no harsh midday sun — morning or evening sun is welcome.
- Watering
- Moderate — the thick trunk stores water, so keep it slightly too dry rather than too wet.
- Care level
- Easy
- Botanical
- Pachira aquatica
The braided trunk is not a whim of nature but nursery craft: several young plants are woven together in their youth and then grow into a single plait. The idea comes from Taiwan, where the pachira became the lucky plant for business openings in the 1980s — hence the name money tree.
Botanically the German name „lucky chestnut“ is a little misleading: the pachira is not related to our chestnut but belongs to the mallow family. The species name aquatica points to its riverside home — it tolerates briefly wet feet better than many houseplants, but still does not want to stand in water permanently.
Its great trump card is the thickened trunk base in which it stores water. That is why it forgives forgotten waterings far more readily than overwatering: yellow leaves dropping en masse are almost always the receipt for too much watering, not too little.
The money tree is happiest in a bright spot without harsh midday sun, ideally with some morning or evening sun. It responds to draughts and cold spots below 12 degrees with leaf drop — so the spot right by the balcony door is not a good idea in winter.
If the plant gets too big or bare, you can cut it back without worry; it re-sprouts willingly from old wood. Larger specimens with a thick trunk also make grateful office plants: they survive the odd unattended weekend and grow evenly if you turn them towards the light now and then.
Is Money Tree toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Non-toxic
- Cats
- Non-toxic
- Dogs
- Non-toxic
The money tree is considered non-toxic to cats, dogs and people, making it one of the safest large houseplants for families and pet households. At worst, nibbling larger amounts may upset the stomach.
Overview: toxic & non-toxic plants for cats, dogs and children
Care
- 01A bright spot without harsh midday sun; tolerates partial shade too, but grows more slowly there.
- 02Water moderately: let the top few centimetres of soil dry out between waterings.
- 03Avoid standing water in the cachepot — pour off excess water after watering.
- 04Keep it warm (18–25 °C), never below 12 °C in winter; avoid draughts.
- 05Feed weakly once a month from spring to autumn.
- 06Turn it occasionally so the crown grows evenly; it can be pruned at any time.
Frequently asked
- Is the money tree toxic to cats or dogs?
- No, Pachira aquatica is considered non-toxic to cats and dogs and harmless to children as well. That makes it one of the best large houseplants for households with pets — unlike dieffenbachia or monstera, for example.
- Why is my money tree losing leaves?
- The three most common causes: too much water, draughts, or a spot that is too cold and dark. Yellow, soft leaves point to waterlogging — water less often. After a move or change of location the pachira often drops leaves temporarily and recovers once it has settled in.
- Why is the money tree trunk braided?
- The braiding is pure nursery artistry and comes from Taiwan: several young plants are woven into a plait and grow together over the years. The plait is said to hold luck in the house. The braiding does not harm the plant — the stems fuse together permanently.
- How often should I water a money tree?
- In summer about once a week, in winter every two to three weeks — always only once the top few centimetres of soil have dried out. The thickened trunk stores water, so the pachira easily shrugs off a forgotten watering, but not constant wetness.