In Central and Southern America, this interesting wetland plant can often be spotted in full flower. The Pachira aquatica in Flower Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons The beautifully green, glossy foliage canopy will spread to around a metre when mature. Indoor-grown examples won’t reach these heights, thankfully: you can expect a more viable height of around 1.5 metres. The growth is rapid and a natural leaf canopy is quickly established. In its natural habitat, it will reach heights of up to 18 metres. This can be advantageous for a house plant, and over-watering should be avoided. This plant’s thick trunk is naturally able to store water during hotter and drier periods, when there is less rainfall. The poor man made money from selling new plants grown from the Pachira’s seeds, and was a poor man no longer.īecause of this inspiring story, it’s a very popular symbolic plant in Asia, said to bring good fortune and financial prosperity to all who own one. Thinking this was an omen, he took the plant home, and in time, propagated its seeds. There’s a symbolic story its “Money Tree” moniker:Ī poor man was praying for money and found a rather odd-looking plant. This is in reference to its natural water-loving root system and growing nature. Its Latin translation, however, means “aquatic”. The “Pachira” genus name is derived from an ancient language native to Guyana, where it translates to “sweet water nut”. History and Meaning of the Asian Money Tree Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons Its open canopy form and moisture-loving nature make this an attractive, easy-care choice for the busy and bustling amongst us. Regardless of its alter ego, it has a great deal of admirers within the worldwide house plant community, especially in Japan. Additionally, in Germany it’s known as a “Cocoa Tree”. That said, it’s also commonly referred to as the “Malabar Chestnut”, “Wild Kapok Tree”, and “Money Tree”. The Pachira aquatica is a member of the Mallow sub-family, or Malvaceae. It’s commonly found growing in swampland and along wet river banks in Central and South America, from Mexico right down to Costa Rica. Natively this attractive specimen plant is a tropical wetland tree. The delicate palmate leaves grow from these trunks on slender stems, towards direction of the light. Here they take 3 or more stems and plait them together to form a single trunk. You’ll usually find this tropical houseplant sold as a braided stem version, rather than a solitary trunk. This results in a canopy of tropical foliage that sunlight gently filters through. It boasts bright, glossy palmate leaves, borne atop thick and ornate woody trunks. Pachira aquatica in All its Glory Photo credit: Wikimedia Commonsįor me, the Pachira aquatica promises a year-round display. Let’s take a closer look at this wonderful plant’s history, and learn how to get the most from this rare species. The “Pachira aquatica” is a popular evergreen foliage plant with promise of great fortune, financial prosperity and positive energy, according to both ancient Asian folklore and Masters in the art of Feng Shui.
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