A “lucky plant” is a term rooted in traditional belief systems, representing a living symbol thought to attract positive energy, wealth, or good fortune into a home or office. This cultural tradition, prominent in practices like Feng Shui, is not a category recognized in botanical science. Plants are selected for their appearance, often resembling coins or fast-growing forms, symbolizing prosperity and growth.
Identifying Popular Lucky Plants
Three houseplants are most commonly recognized across various cultures as powerful symbols of prosperity and luck.
The Jade Plant, scientifically known as Crassula ovata, is a succulent characterized by its thick, fleshy, oval-shaped leaves that resemble jade stones or small coins. Its slow growth and longevity symbolize enduring friendship, financial stability, and steady accumulation of wealth. Many people believe the more leaves the plant has, the greater the fortune it attracts.
The Money Tree, or Pachira aquatica, is distinctive for its glossy, hand-shaped leaves that typically grow in clusters of five, which is considered a lucky number in Feng Shui. This tropical tree is often sold with its thin, pliable trunks braided together, a practice thought to “trap” good fortune within the folds. Originating in Central and South American wetlands, its symbolism is strongly tied to financial success.
Despite its common name, Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana) is not a true bamboo but a member of the Dracaena family. This plant is valued for its resilience and fast, upright growth, which symbolizes flexibility, strength, and life progression. Its hollow stems are seen as conduits for the flow of positive energy, and it is frequently given as a gift to convey wishes for health and prosperity.
The Cultural Significance of Plant Placement
The belief that certain plants bring good fortune is heavily influenced by Feng Shui, an ancient Chinese practice focused on harmonizing individuals with their surrounding environment. This system uses an energy map, known as the Bagua, to divide a space into nine sections, each corresponding to a different life area. The most direct way to activate financial luck is by placing a prosperity plant in the “Xun” position, which is the wealth corner.
To locate this wealth area, one typically stands at the main entrance of the home or a specific room and identifies the far-left corner. Since the wealth corner is associated with the wood element, placing a healthy, vibrant plant like the Money Tree or Jade Plant there is believed to enhance growth and draw in financial abundance.
For Lucky Bamboo, the number of stalks in an arrangement carries specific meanings that influence its placement and purpose. For example, three stalks symbolize happiness, wealth, and longevity, while eight stalks are specifically chosen to attract wealth and abundance. The number four is traditionally avoided in Chinese culture because its pronunciation is similar to the word for death. The plant arrangement itself is meant to represent all five elements of Feng Shui: the stalks for wood, water for the growing medium, pebbles for earth, a red ribbon for fire, and the container for metal.
Essential Care Tips for Prosperity Plants
Providing the proper growing conditions is necessary to maintain the health of these plants.
Both the Money Tree and Lucky Bamboo thrive in bright, indirect light, as direct, harsh sunlight can scorch their leaves and cause discoloration. A spot near an east-facing window is often ideal, providing gentle morning sun without the intensity of afternoon light.
Watering requirements vary significantly between the plants, reflecting their different native environments. The Jade Plant, being a succulent, stores water in its thick leaves and requires the soil to completely dry out between waterings to prevent root rot. Conversely, Lucky Bamboo is often grown directly in water, which must be kept fresh and clean, or in soil that should be kept consistently moist but never soggy. The Money Tree prefers a balanced approach, where the soil should be allowed to dry slightly between thorough waterings.
These tropical plants prefer warm conditions, typically thriving in temperature ranges between 60°F and 95°F. They should be kept away from cold drafts.