Money tree
Pachira aquatica
Also called Pachira, Guiana chestnut and Braided money tree
Houseplant · Trees & big statementsThe braid is done at the nursery, not by the plant. Water deeply but let it dry well between.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Medium
- Water
- Every 12 daysDrench and drain — water the whole surface until it runs from the holes.
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Feed
- Every 45 days
- Humidity
- Average
- Hardiness
- Indoors, or out in high summer RHS H1B, to 10°C
- Size
- 2 m tall · 1 m across
- Lifecycle
- Tree
- Origin
- Central and South America
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsSafe for pets
PeopleNot checked yet
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-07-31.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
First signs of trouble
- The braid gives slightly under a thumb just above the compost, and the bark there has darkened — the leaves stay green for weeks after this.Trunk rot · disease
- The outer leaflets of each hand crisp at the tips and the whole hand folds down before it falls.Leaf drop from a dry spell · disorder