Pachira spp.

money tree

Malvaceae Tropical Central and South America

Attracts Pollinators Fragrant (moderate)Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

HardinessZones 10–12

Overview

Pachira spp. is a genus of about 24 evergreen trees in the mallow family (Malvaceae), native to tropical wetlands and riverbanks of Central and South America. The species grown as a houseplant, P. aquatica, reaches 30-60 feet (9-18 m) in the wild but is kept to a few feet as a container plant. The palmately compound leaves carry five to nine glossy, lance-shaped leaflets that radiate from a long stalk like fingers on a hand. Large flowers up to 14 inches (35 cm) long open at night, their narrow petals curling back to release a brush of slender cream to reddish stamens, and they are followed by woody, football-shaped pods holding edible nut-like seeds. Pachira spp. grows fast in warm, humid, brightly lit conditions but will not tolerate frost or prolonged cold, dropping leaves below about 28F (-2C). As a houseplant the slender young trunks are often braided together. Overwatering in low light causes root rot, the most common cause of failure indoors.

Native Range

Pachira spp. is native to the tropical wetlands, swamps, and riverbanks of Central and South America, from southern Mexico through the Amazon basin, where P. aquatica grows in seasonally flooded ground.

Suggested Uses

Grown chiefly as a braided-stem foliage houseplant and office plant, and as a fast-growing shade or street tree in frost-free tropical climates. Indoor specimens stay in containers for years and are repotted as they fill the pot. In the tropics trees are spaced well apart for their broad crowns.

How to Identify

Recognized by palmately compound leaves with five to nine glossy lance-shaped leaflets spread like a hand, smooth green bark, and a swollen trunk base in cultivated plants. Night-opening flowers carry a dense brush of long stamens above curling petals. The large woody seed pods and braided trunks of nursery plants are common identifying features.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6' - 60'

Width/Spread6' - 30'

Reaches mature size in approximately 6 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~4 weeks

Summer

Flowering occurs mainly in the warm, wet season, often around summer, with large night-opening blooms that last only a day or two. Indoor plants rarely flower, as they seldom reach the size or light levels needed. Pollination in the wild is by bats and moths drawn to the night scent.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

cream to reddish, with long stamens

Foliage Description

glossy green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

4-6 years to flowering size

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grow Pachira spp. in bright, indirect light or part sun in a loose, fertile, moisture-retaining mix with a pH around 6.0-7.5. The plants tolerate wet roots far better than dry ones in the wild, but in containers the mix should drain freely and dry slightly between waterings to prevent rot. Keep plants above about 50F (10C) and away from cold drafts. Feed monthly through the growing season with a balanced fertilizer. Wipe dust from the leaflets to keep them glossy. Yellowing lower leaves usually signal overwatering or cold.

Pruning

Prune in spring to control height and shape, cutting just above a leaf node; the plants branch readily from below the cut. Remove yellow or dropped leaves as they appear. Braided trunks are maintained by trimming wayward shoots while the stems are still pliable.