Photo: Derk29 / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Wikimedia Commons

Money tree

Pachira aquatica

شجرة المال

A braided-trunk tree with glossy hand-shaped leaves and a swollen, water-storing base, non-toxic to pets. It likes bright indirect light and drainage; wet compost rots it and drought drops the leaves.

Mature size0.6–1.8 m tall, 0.4–1 m spreadGrowthModerateSunPart shadeWaterModerate

Heat: 1 of 5

Salt: 1 of 5

Drought: 2 of 5

Shade: 3 of 5

Ease of care: 3 of 5

Use in a design Get it looked after

Season

Through the Dubai year

How Money tree behaves through Dubai's seasons, month by month.

JJan

FFeb

MMar

AApr

MMay

JJun

JJul

AAug

SSep

OOct

NNov

DDec

Avg high °C

24°

26°

29°

34°

38°

40°

42°

40°

36°

31°

27°

New leaves unfurl

Mar – Oct

Light feed

Apr – Sep

Cut back to control size

Hot glass and dry AC air

Jun – Sep

Check for aphids, scale and gnats

Apr – Oct

Growth slows

New leaves unfurl: Mar–Oct
Strongest in bright, indirect light.
Light feed: Apr–Sep
NC State links yellow leaves to low nutrients; use a light houseplant fertiliser.
Cut back to control size: Mar–Apr
The RHS says to cut back shoots in spring.
Hot glass and dry AC air: Jun–Sep
Keep out of direct sun through glass; low humidity yellows leaves.
Check for aphids, scale and gnats: Apr–Oct
NC State lists aphids, mealybugs, scale and fungus gnats.
Growth slows: Dec–Feb
Water less often but never let the soil dry out completely.

Money tree is evergreen indoors and changes little through the year, so its calendar is about pace and watering. From around March to October it grows, with new leaves unfurling from the shoot tips; spring is the time to cut back shoots to control size (RHS) and to repot if needed. In July and August the main risk is hot glass scorching the leaves, and the dry air of constant air conditioning, which NC State links to yellow leaves. From December to February growth slows, so water less often, but never let the soil dry out completely, since NC State says that causes leaf drop.

Meet the plant

Meet the Money tree

Meet the money tree, a plant with a good story and an interesting body. The braided trunk is the trade's doing: seedlings are plaited while the stems are still flexible, a practice NC State says began in Taiwan, where the tree became popular in the 1980s and the braid was thought to lock in luck. Beneath the plait sits a swollen base, the caudex, which NC State describes as the tree's water reservoir.

In the wild it is a tree of freshwater swamps, estuaries and riverbanks from Mexico to South America, growing to around 18 metres with large, fragrant flowers and edible nuts. The surprise is that its home is wet, yet a pot is not a swamp: NC State says standing water is not tolerated in a pot and causes root rot.

The mood is compact and calm. A small tree on a floor or table, with leaves that fan out like a hand, five to nine leaflets to a leaf, gives a corner a light, open canopy. It suits a hallway, a home office or the end of a sofa where a sculptural trunk adds structure.

Pachira aquatica is a tree in the mallow family from Mexico to tropical South America. As a houseplant it normally grows to around 1 to 2 metres; the RHS says it is unlikely to exceed 1.5 metres in a pot and NC State gives 6 to 8 feet. The braided trunk sold in shops is several seedlings grown together. Do not confuse it with the jade plant (Crassula ovata), which is also sold as a money tree.

It likes bright, indirect light or a mix of sun and shade; leaf scorch occurs in direct sun (NC State). A warm 18 to 24°C suits it, which a cool air-conditioned room provides. Keep it out of the direct stream of an AC vent, as the RHS advises for most tropicals, and out of the hot glass of an afternoon window.

Water is the main challenge. NC State says it prefers a moist, well-drained mix, that standing water is not tolerated and causes root rot, and that leaf drop can occur if the soil is too dry. Yellow leaves can mean low humidity or low nutrients. So aim for even moisture: water thoroughly, let the surface dry, and never leave the pot in a saucer.

Pests to watch for are aphids, mealybugs, scale and fungus gnats (NC State). Cut back shoots in spring to control size (RHS). The ASPCA lists it as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. A braided houseplant will not flower or set nuts indoors (NC State), so grow it for its form.

Design

Where to use it

Small floor treeHome-office cornerHallwayBeside a bright window

Use a money tree where you want a small tree with a sculptural trunk: a hallway, the corner of a home office, a spot beside a bright, east- or west-facing window. The braided stem is the feature, so give it a plain, heavy pot with drainage. Keep it away from AC vents and hot, direct afternoon glass, and don't move it around: it prefers a steady spot. It is pet-safe, which makes it a good choice for a home with cats or dogs.

Spider plant

Spider plant is another pet-safe choice, and its arching striped leaves fill the space around the money tree's bare base.

Areca palm

Both are non-toxic to pets, and the areca palm's feathery fronds make a soft backdrop to the money tree's hand-shaped leaves.

Pothos

Pothos trails over the pot rim and covers the soil surface at the money tree's base.

Care guide

How to grow it in Dubai

Watering: Summer: Water thoroughly when the top 3 to 5 centimetres of mix have dried, often about once a week in a cool AC room, then let it drain fully; never leave it standing in water.
Winter: Water less often as growth slows, but do not let the soil dry out completely, which causes leaf drop (NC State).
Soil: A moist, well-drained mix; NC State suggests peat moss with perlite, loam or sand. Always use a pot with drainage holes.
Feeding: A light houseplant fertiliser through the growing season, April to September; yellow leaves can reflect low nutrients (NC State).
Pruning: Cut back shoots in spring to control size (RHS); remove any yellowed or damaged leaves.
Planting: Repot in spring when the roots fill the pot, into a heavy pot with drainage; the braided trunk should not be unplaited.
Pests: AphidsMealybugsScale insectsFungus gnats

Avoid these

Common mistakes

Watering heavily because its name is aquatica. It grows in swamps in the wild, but NC State says standing water in a pot is not tolerated and causes root rot.
Using a decorative pot without drainage. Water collects at the bottom, and the roots and swollen base rot.
Letting the soil dry out hard. NC State says leaf drop can occur if the soil is too dry, so keep it evenly moist.
Putting it in direct sun through hot glass. NC State says leaf scorch occurs in direct sun.
Expecting flowers or nuts. NC State says a houseplant will not flower indoors or if braided, and houseplants never produce seeds.

Extra notes

Good to know

The ASPCA lists it as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. NC State's Plant Toolbox notes mild stomach upset for cats and that the seeds, which houseplants never produce, may be toxic.
'Money tree' is also the name used for the jade plant (Crassula ovata), a completely different succulent, so check the botanical name when buying.
The braiding of seedlings began in Taiwan and was thought to lock in luck; the tree is used in feng shui to bring good fortune (NC State).
In the wild it grows to about 18 metres in freshwater swamps and along riverbanks, and the nuts are eaten raw, fried or roasted.

Toxicity: Non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses, according to the ASPCA. NC State's Plant Toolbox lists low severity: mild to moderate stomach upset in cats (vomiting, diarrhoea, drooling), and notes that the seeds may be toxic, though houseplants never produce seeds.

Pros

Braided trunk and swollen base give a sculptural, tree-like form
Non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses (ASPCA)
Compact enough for a hall, office or side of a sofa; prune to hold its size
Glossy, hand-shaped leaves make a light, open canopy

Cons

Rots in wet compost: a pot is not the swamp it grows in naturally
Drops leaves when the soil gets too dry (NC State)
Yellows in low humidity or when underfed (NC State)
Direct sun scorches the leaves

FAQ

Common questions

Why is my money tree dropping leaves?

NC State says leaf drop can occur if the soil is too dry; low humidity and low nutrients cause yellow leaves. Too-wet compost rots the roots, so the fix is even moisture, good drainage, no direct AC vent and a steady spot.

How often should I water a money tree in Dubai?

When the top 3 to 5 centimetres have dried, then thoroughly. In a cool AC room that is often about weekly in summer and less in winter. NC State says standing water is not tolerated and causes root rot.

Do I need to unbraid a money tree as it grows?

No. The braid is several seedlings grown together and the stems thicken in place. NC State notes that a braided plant will not flower indoors, so there is no reason to disturb it.

Is a money tree safe for pets?

The ASPCA lists it as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses. NC State notes mild stomach upset is possible in cats, so it is a sensible pet-household plant, but chewing is still best discouraged.

Will a money tree flower or produce nuts in a Dubai apartment?

No. NC State says houseplants will not flower indoors or if braided, and houseplants never produce seeds. In the wild it has large, fragrant flowers and edible nuts.

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