Jade Plant Meaning: Why This “Money Magnet” Is in Every Successful Home

Jade plants (Crassula ovata) are fabulous low-maintenance plants rich with meaning and symbolism – quite literally. These succulents are believed to represent good luck, success, and wealth, which explains why the jade plant is often known by alter-egos like the “money plant” or “money tree.” In this guide, we’ll discover the meaning and symbolism of jade plants in various cultures and philosophies around the world.

Why is the Jade Plant Called a Money Plant?

Jade plants developed their “money plant” alter-ego thanks to their role in feng shui. An ancient spiritual practice from China, feng shui associates jade plants with good fortune, financial wealth, and success. Jade plants are especially popular as a good luck gift for new business ventures. 

However, things can get a bit confusing here. Jade plants aren’t the only plants with this nickname. The Pachira Aquatica is commonly called the “money tree”.

However, this is not a succulent like the jade plant. Pilea peperomoides are also called the Chinese money plant, but again, they’re not succulents.

Why are Jade Plants Associated with Friendship?

One of the jade plant’s many nicknames is the “friendship tree.” This mainly refers to flowering jade plants that are traditionally given as gifts. 

Jade plants need certain conditions to flower, so putting in the effort to nurture a jade plant like this takes dedication. And gifting that plant to a friend symbolizes how dedicated you are to their friendship. The foliage represents the joy and energy of a strong friendship. Meanwhile, the scent of the small white flowers is seen as the fragrance of a strong bond.

Again, the feng shui connection is another reason why jade plants are associated with certain qualities. In this practice, jade plants are seen as a symbol of good luck. Giving a jade plant to someone you know is a way of wishing them success in their endeavors. 

Other Folklore, Myths, and Symbolism

In Chinese culture, jade plant symbolism has gradually evolved beyond feng shui. Jade plants are used at Chinese New Year to cultivate good fortune and prosperity for the year ahead. People may put investment documents underneath a jade plant to get a higher payoff. 

Another practice is to tie little red envelopes containing money or coins onto the jade plant using red ribbon. These envelopes are known as “lai see” and are a way of asking for good luck. This practice began in China during the Han Dynasty and has since spread to other Asian cultures.

Traditionally, jade plants are seen as excellent gifts for new business owners or during first-time business meetings. Presents like this are given to bless the venture with success and good fortune. These succulents are also traditional housewarming or birthday presents.

Use of Jade Plants in Feng Shui

The Chinese spiritual practice of feng shui is the most famous source of jade plant symbolism. This philosophy teaches that we can cultivate positive energy or chi by arranging our living environment in specific ways. 

Jade plants are seen as one of the money-makers of feng shui. These succulents embody prosperity, success, and wealth – both financial and physical. This association came about because jade plants have round leaves that resemble coins. 

The color green plays a big part when using jade plants in feng shui. Green has specific associations in feng shui – it’s linked with growth and prosperity. It also represents renewal and regeneration. Evergreen plants, like the jade plant, also embody permanence and stability.

As well as colors, feng shui can also be divided between five natural elements – wood, fire, earth, water, and metal. Like all plants, jade plants belong to the wood element, representing energy and growth. Wood is also associated with the family and wealth zones of the Bagua Map.

Where Should Jade Plants be Located in the Home According to Feng Shui?

So how do you actually use jade plants to generate positive chi? Well, in feng shui, objects should be placed in specific areas that maximize their potential energy. For jade plants, locations on the Bagua Map are associated with success and wealth.

The southeast is the most common Bagua zone to focus on when cultivating wealth. This area is associated with the wood element. The southeast is also related to the sun, which works well for jade plants because they need plenty of sunlight. You can also place a jade plant in the southeastern part of an office or study to encourage success.

Jade plants can help cultivate not just financial wealth but also health. Put a jade plant in an eastern aspect of your home to do this. This region governs family and health, so adding a jade plant here can help bring good health luck to everyone you love.

Getting positive feng shui from jade plants isn’t just something for the home either. If you own a business, particularly a restaurant or a store, a jade plant could help the chi in your business property. A jade plant should either be placed at the entrance or right next to the cash register in these situations.

Don’t put a jade plant in the bathroom to avoid messing up your carefully cultivated feng shui. Otherwise, your positive chi could literally end up down the toilet. 

The bedroom isn’t a recommended location for jade plants either. Plants produce yang energy, which is associated with activity and work. Too much yang energy can make your bedroom feel restless rather than relaxing.

You’ll also need to keep your jade plant healthy to get the maximum benefit for feng shui. If a plant becomes unhealthy when not properly cared for, that produces negative chi.

Wrapping Up

Jade plants are extremely popular succulents with a wealth of meaning and symbolism. In Chinese feng shui, jade plants epitomize good fortune, success, and wealth or prosperity. This extends to health as well as money. 

Jade plants are traditionally presented as good luck gifts for friends or new business ventures. They’re associated with prosperity at Chinese New Year and also represent friendship and renewal.