“Money plant” is a common name, not a botanical one, and it is attached to at least five different plants. Which one you mean usually depends on where you live and what the plant looks like. Care is very different between them: one is a jungle vine, one a desert succulent, one a swamp tree. Identify the plant first.
The five “money plants” at a glance
| Plant | Botanical name | What it looks like | Light | Water | Cats and dogs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pothos | Epipremnum aureum | Trailing vine, glossy heart-shaped leaves, often yellow-variegated | Bright, indirect; survives low light | Let the mix dry between waterings | Toxic (ASPCA) |
| Jade plant | Crassula ovata | Succulent shrub, thick oval leaves on woody stems; becomes a miniature tree | Sunny, with some afternoon shade | Water in moderation when dry | Toxic (ASPCA) |
| Money tree | Pachira aquatica | Tree, often braided trunks; leaves divided into 5–9 leaflets | Indirect; direct sun scorches | Moist but never standing in water | Non-toxic (ASPCA) |
| Chinese money plant | Pilea peperomioides | Small clump; round, coin-like leaves attached at the centre | Bright, indirect | Moist, well-drained | NC State: safe for pets and children |
| Honesty (garden plant) | Lunaria annua | Garden biennial, purple flowers, then flat papery “silver dollar” seed pods | Full sun to part shade | Garden plant | — |
Common-name sources: NC State Extension lists “money plant” for Crassula ovata, Pachira aquatica and Lunaria annua, and “Chinese money plant” for Pilea peperomioides. Singapore’s National Parks Board lists “money plant” among the common names of Epipremnum aureum, and Ghana’s Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) uses the same name for it.
How to identify your money plant
- Does it trail or climb, with heart-shaped leaves? It is pothos. NC State’s quick ID: glossy heart-shaped leaves often variegated with yellow, grooved leaf stalks, and no papery stipules on new growth.
- Are the leaves thick, oval and succulent, on woody stems? It is jade plant.
- Is it a small tree with a trunk (often braided) and hand-shaped leaves of 5–9 leaflets? It is money tree.
- Is it a small clump with round, flat leaves on long stalks attached under the centre of the leaf? It is Chinese money plant.
- Is it a garden plant with papery, coin-like seed pods? It is honesty, Lunaria annua, grown for dried arrangements.
If the leaves are round but fleshy and the plant is upright, also consider raindrop peperomia, which NC State notes is often confused with Chinese money plant. See our peperomia varieties guide.
Pothos: the money plant grown in water
The “money plant” grown in a jar or bottle of water is pothos. NC State notes its vines root easily in water. It is native to the Society Islands, prefers bright, indirect light, survives long periods in low light, and should dry between waterings when grown in soil. It is toxic to cats and dogs.
Jade plant
A South African succulent. NC State recommends a sunny indoor spot with some afternoon shade and well-drained, loamy potting soil. Water in moderation when the soil is dry, and less from fall to late winter. Overwatering causes leaf drop and root rot. It propagates easily from leaf cuttings. It is toxic to cats and dogs.
Money tree (Pachira aquatica)
A tropical tree from southern Mexico to northern South America, found in swamps and along riverbanks in the wild. As a houseplant it usually stays 1.8–2.4 m (6–8 ft) tall, according to NC State. Its trunks are flexible enough to braid.
NC State’s care notes:
- Light: indirect light; direct sun can scorch the leaves.
- Soil: moist, well-drained mix.
- Water: never leave it in standing water, which causes root rot.
- Temperature: bring it indoors before temperatures drop to 7 °C (45 °F).
- Flowers: it will not flower indoors or when braided.
The ASPCA lists it as non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses.
Chinese money plant (Pilea peperomioides)
A compact plant from the shady mountains of Yunnan, China, 20–30 cm (8–12 in) tall, with round leaves about 10 cm (4 in) across. NC State recommends:
- Light: bright, indirect light.
- Soil: moist, well-drained potting mix.
- Placement: away from cold drafts and heat sources.
- Propagation: offsets (pups) or stem cuttings in spring or early summer.
NC State describes it as safe for pets and children.
Honesty (Lunaria annua)
In European and North American gardens, “money plant” can mean honesty: a biennial in the mustard family, 60–90 cm (2–3 ft) tall, with purple flowers followed by flat, papery seed pods prized for dried arrangements. It is a garden plant, not a houseplant.
Pets
If you have cats or dogs, the difference matters. The ASPCA lists pothos and jade plant as toxic to dogs and cats, and money tree as non-toxic. NC State describes Chinese money plant as safe for pets and children. For other options, see our pet-safe plants guide.
References
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Epipremnum aureum, Crassula ovata, Pachira aquatica, Pilea peperomioides, Lunaria annua
- National Parks Board Singapore, Flora & Fauna Web: Epipremnum aureum
- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University Relations Office (2025): The Invasive Beauty: The Money Plant of KNUST
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: Golden Pothos, Jade Plant, Money Tree