The money plant most recommended for Feng Shui is the Pachira aquatica, widely known as the Money Tree — especially the braided variety, whose stems typically carry five leaflets symbolizing the five Feng Shui elements. Close runners-up are the Jade Plant (Crassula ovata), prized for its coin-shaped leaves, and the Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum), valued for how easy it is to keep alive and thriving.

"Money plant" isn't one single species — it's a name applied to a few different plants across different traditions. Here's how the three most common options compare, and how to choose between them.

1. Money Tree (Pachira Aquatica) — The Traditional Feng Shui Choice

The Pachira aquatica is the plant most directly associated with Feng Shui wealth symbolism. Its defining feature is five leaflets branching from a single stem, echoing the five elements — Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. It's commonly sold with an intentionally braided trunk made of three, five, or seven individual stems, since odd numbers are considered more auspicious, and it's a traditional gift for new business openings.

2. Jade Plant (Crassula Ovata) — Coin-Shaped Leaves for Wealth

The Jade Plant's small, round, fleshy leaves are said to resemble stacked coins, making it one of the most popular wealth-associated succulents in Feng Shui. As a Wood-element plant, it's considered supportive of growth and new opportunity, and its low-maintenance nature makes it a common choice for offices and desks.

3. Golden Pothos (Epipremnum Aureum) — Easy-Care Wealth Vine

Sometimes informally called "Money Plant" in its own right, Golden Pothos is a trailing vine known for surviving low light, irregular watering, and general neglect — a resilience that's earned it the nickname "Devil's Ivy." Its lush, ever-growing foliage is associated with continuous growth and abundance, making it popular for shelves, hanging planters, and rooms with limited natural light.

How to Choose Between Them

  • Want the most traditional, symbolically specific option: Pachira aquatica (Money Tree)
  • Want a low-maintenance succulent for a desk or shelf: Jade Plant
  • Want something nearly impossible to kill, even in low light: Golden Pothos

Where to Place Your Money Plant

Most practitioners recommend placing a money plant in the wealth corner of the home or room — typically the far-left area from the main entrance, or the southeast zone of the Bagua map — as well as near, but not directly facing, the front door. Bathrooms and areas with poor light are generally avoided, since both are associated with energy that could work against the plant's wealth symbolism.

Care Tips That Matter for Feng Shui

Because a wilting or dying plant is considered a source of stagnant energy in Feng Shui, keeping a money plant healthy is treated as part of the practice itself — yellowing leaves, dead growth, or dry soil should be addressed promptly, and a plant that repeatedly fails to thrive is often swapped for a more resilient variety like Pothos or Jade rather than left in decline.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pothos the same as a Money Plant?

Golden Pothos is often informally called "Money Plant," but it's a different species from the Pachira aquatica, which is the plant most specifically tied to traditional Feng Shui money-tree symbolism.

How many stems should a Money Tree have for good Feng Shui?

Braided Money Trees are typically sold with three, five, or seven stems, since odd numbers are generally considered more auspicious than even ones in Feng Shui.

Can a fake or artificial money plant work for Feng Shui?

Live plants are generally preferred because they're believed to carry active growth energy, but a high-quality artificial plant is considered an acceptable substitute in spaces without enough light to sustain a real one, as long as it's kept clean and dust-free.

What happens if my money plant dies?

A dead or dying plant is considered a source of stagnant energy rather than a bad omen in itself — the recommendation is simply to remove it promptly and replace it with a new, healthy plant.