Which plant is sitting in that pot on your windowsill right now? If someone gave it to you as a “money plant,” the answer could be one of three completely different species. One is a leafy tropical vine that climbs trees in the wild. One is a European garden flower with see-through seed pods that look like silver coins. The third is a small tree with a braided trunk. They share a nickname, a promise of prosperity, and almost nothing else. That confusion matters, because care instructions for one can kill another.
This guide sorts out the naming mess, then covers what each plant actually needs, what the folk beliefs claim, and where the science gets shaky.
Three Different Plants Called Money Plant
The nickname is a folk and marketing label, not a botanical one. Garden centers rarely clarify which species they mean, and buyers often walk away with the wrong care sheet.
| Common name | Scientific name | What it looks like | Where the name comes from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Money plant, pothos, devil’s ivy | Epipremnum aureum | Heart-shaped green or variegated leaves on a trailing vine | South and East Asian prosperity symbolism |
| Money plant, honesty, silver dollar plant | Lunaria annua | Purple or white flowers, flat translucent seed pods | Pods resemble silver coins |
| Money tree (often sold as money plant) | Pachira aquatica | Small tree, usually with a braided trunk | Feng shui wealth tradition, commercial packaging |
In South Asia and much of the English-speaking world, money plant almost always means Epipremnum aureum, the trailing houseplant also sold as pothos or devil’s ivy. The species was first described in 1880 under the name Pothos aureus, and the “money” part came later as cultural branding rather than taxonomy.
In Britain, the same phrase points to Lunaria annua, a garden biennial called honesty. Its seed pods dry into papery, translucent discs that really do look like coins, which is where “silver dollar plant” comes from.
The third plant, Pachira aquatica, is the braided-trunk tree sold as a money tree. Retailers blur the line constantly, so check the label or the leaf shape before you buy.
How to Care for a Pothos Money Plant
Epipremnum aureum is one of the most forgiving houseplants sold today, which is a big reason it ends up in so many homes and offices. It is a climbing hemiepiphyte in the wild, meaning it starts life on a tree and sends aerial roots down for support. Indoors, that translates to a vine that wants something to grab.
Light. The plant survives in low light, but it grows fastest in bright, indirect light. A spot a few feet from a window works well. Direct afternoon sun can scorch the leaves, and deep shade slows growth to a crawl and fades variegation.
Water. Let the top inch or two of soil dry before watering again. Yellow leaves usually mean too much water, not too little. Root rot from soggy potting mix is the most common way these plants die.
Soil and pot. Use a loose, well-draining mix. A pot with a drainage hole is non-negotiable. If you want the trailing look, pinch off the growing tips to encourage branching.
Support. Give the vine a moss pole or trellis and the leaves will grow larger over time. Left to trail, it stays compact and bushy.
Propagation. Stem cuttings root easily in water or damp soil. Cut just below a node, strip the lower leaves, and wait two to four weeks. This is the cheapest way to expand a collection, and cuttings make good gifts, which fits the plant’s reputation nicely.
Common mistakes. Overwatering tops the list. Second is repotting into a container far too large, which holds moisture the roots cannot use. Third is expecting fast growth in a dark corner and then blaming the plant.
If you enjoy low-maintenance greenery, the same practical mindset applies to other houseplants. Our guide on how to water succulents so they thrive, not rot covers the soak-and-dry approach that keeps water-loving mistakes from becoming fatal ones.
Are Money Plants Toxic to Pets and Children?
Yes, the pothos version is. Epipremnum aureum contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals called raphides. Chewing the leaves or stems causes immediate oral irritation, pain and swelling of the mouth, tongue, and lips, plus drooling and vomiting in both people and pets. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals lists golden pothos as toxic to cats and dogs on its golden pothos toxicity entry.
The good news is that the crystals are not absorbed systemically the way some poisons are. Symptoms are usually localized and resolve, but a pet that chews a lot can end up miserable for hours. Keep the plant on a shelf or hanging basket out of reach, and call a vet or poison control if swelling is severe or breathing seems affected.
Lunaria annua and Pachira aquatica are not on the same toxicity list, but any plant can cause stomach upset if eaten in quantity. When in doubt, keep all three away from curious mouths.
Why the Money Plant Got Its Name
The prosperity connection is cultural, not botanical. In South and East Asian traditions tied to feng shui, certain plants are associated with wealth and good fortune, and the money plant is one of the most popular. The name spread through gift-giving, housewarming customs, and eventually commercial packaging.
There is nothing wrong with enjoying that symbolism. A plant that survives neglect and propagates freely is a genuinely optimistic thing to keep on a desk. Just do not expect the leaves to change your bank balance.
That gap between a lucky charm and real financial outcomes is worth noticing elsewhere too. The same pattern shows up in the crypto world, where central bank digital currencies promise efficiency but come with trade-offs worth understanding. Our explainer on CBDC digital currency and central bank money going digital breaks down what is actually changing and what is hype.
Do Money Plants Really Clean Indoor Air?
This is the claim that refuses to die, and it deserves a careful answer.
The 1989 NASA Clean Air Study, led by Wolverton and colleagues, reported that several indoor plants, including Epipremnum aureum (listed under the older name Scindapsus aureus), removed volatile organic compounds from sealed test chambers. The NASA Clean Air Study overview explains the experiment and why it is so often misquoted.
The problem is scale. Those chambers were tiny and the pollutant doses were high. A 2020 analysis by Cummings and Waring in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology argued that translated to a real room, the effect is negligible compared with simply opening a window or running a filter. You would need a jungle, not a pot, to match the chamber results.
So the balanced answer: money plants are pleasant, low-risk greenery, and they may contribute a tiny amount to air quality. They are not a substitute for ventilation. If indoor air quality is your real concern, our breakdown of what the science actually says about the best indoor plants for air quality separates the useful findings from the marketing. (Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants)
Money Plant as an Invasive Species
Here is the part most houseplant guides skip. A plant that grows this easily indoors can cause real problems outdoors in the right climate.
In Florida, the closely related Epipremnum pinnatum is listed as a Category II invasive by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council, and E. aureum is often treated under it because the taxonomy is unsettled. In Sri Lanka, E. aureum itself is recorded as invasive. It climbs trees, blankets understory vegetation, and roots from fragments, so dumped garden clippings can start new infestations.
The practical takeaway for home growers: never dump cuttings or old potting soil in a garden bed or green space in warm climates. Bag them, or compost them in a sealed system. If you live in a subtropical region, keep the vine contained rather than letting it scramble up outdoor trees.
Honesty and Money Tree: The Other Two Plants
If your “money plant” is Lunaria annua, you have a cool-climate garden biennial, not a houseplant. It grows in ordinary soil, tolerates partial shade, and self-seeds readily. The reward comes after flowering, when the flat green pods dry and the outer covers peel away to leave silvery, coin-like membranes. Cut the stems before the pods shatter and they last for years in a vase. Learn more about the species on the Lunaria annua encyclopedia entry.
If you have Pachira aquatica, treat it like a tropical tree. It wants bright light, consistent moisture without standing water, and warm temperatures. The braided trunk is a nursery technique, not a natural growth habit, and the braid can eventually constrict the stems if it is not loosened. The Pachira aquatica encyclopedia entry covers its native range and growth habits.
Practical Tips That Actually Work
A few habits make the difference between a thriving money plant and a sad one, regardless of which species you own:
- Identify the plant before you follow any care advice. Leaf shape is the fastest clue: heart-shaped and vining means pothos, coin-shaped pods mean honesty, woody trunk means money tree.
- Water by feel, not by calendar. Stick a finger into the soil. Dry at the top means water; damp means wait.
- Always use a pot with drainage. Decorative cachepots without holes are a slow death sentence.
- Rotate the pot a quarter turn each week so growth stays even.
- Quarantine new plants for a couple of weeks before placing them near your collection, especially if you have had pest problems before.
- Keep cuttings away from drains and outdoor soil in warm climates.
The broader lesson is that “money plant” is a nickname doing a lot of work. Once you know which species you have, the care is straightforward, and the folklore becomes a nice bonus rather than a source of confusion.
Conclusion
Money plants are three different species wearing one popular label. The trailing pothos is the forgiving houseplant most people mean, honesty is the garden flower with coin-like pods, and the money tree is the braided tropical tree. Each has its own light, water, and soil needs, and the pothos version is toxic to pets and children if chewed. The prosperity symbolism is cultural, the air-purifying claims are far weaker than the internet suggests, and the plant’s easy growth makes it a genuine invasive risk in warm climates. Identify what you have, water it sensibly, and it will reward you with years of greenery.
What is the most common money plant?
Epipremnum aureum, sold as pothos or devil’s ivy, is the plant most people mean. It has heart-shaped leaves and trails or climbs, and it tolerates low light better than most houseplants.
Are money plants toxic to cats and dogs?
The pothos version is toxic. It contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that cause mouth pain, swelling, drooling, and vomiting if chewed. Keep it out of reach and contact a vet if symptoms are severe.
Do money plants really purify indoor air?
Only marginally. A 1989 NASA study found removal of volatile compounds in sealed chambers, but later analysis showed the effect is negligible in real rooms. Ventilation and filtration do far more.
Can a money plant survive in low light?
It survives but does not thrive. Growth slows and variegated leaves may fade. Bright, indirect light produces the fastest, fullest growth.
How do I propagate a money plant?
Take a stem cutting just below a leaf node, remove the lower leaves, and place it in water or damp soil. Roots usually appear within two to four weeks.
Is a money tree the same as a money plant?
No. The money tree is Pachira aquatica, a tropical tree usually sold with a braided trunk. It needs brighter light and more consistent moisture than pothos.
