Lucky Bamboo vs Money Tree
The money tree is pet-safe and a proper floor plant in soil. Lucky bamboo is a dracaena grown in water on a desk, and it is toxic to cats and dogs.
Money Tree is non-toxic to cats and dogs. Lucky Bamboo is toxic to cats and dogs if chewed, so it needs a shelf pets cannot reach. Lucky Bamboo needs low to medium light (2/5) - fine a few metres back from a window. Money Tree wants medium indirect light (3/5), near a bright window, out of direct sun.
What they share: both are rated easy.
Choose
Lucky Bamboo if…
- ✓your spot is the dimmer of the two - it manages on low to medium light
- ✓you like a plant that asks for attention on a schedule
- ✓your home runs dry in winter and you will not add a humidifier
- ✓it can go somewhere pets genuinely cannot reach
- ✓shelf space is what you have (15-30 cm (6-12 in))
Choose
Money Tree if…
- ✓you have a bright window to give it (medium indirect light)
- ✓you forget to water - it prefers to dry out between drinks
- ✓it will live in a bathroom, kitchen or a humidified room
- ✓cats or dogs chew your plants - this one is non-toxic
- ✓you want a floor-filling plant (90-180+ cm (3-6+ ft))
Lucky Bamboo vs Money Tree: side by side
| Attribute |
Lucky Bamboo
|
Money Tree
|
|---|---|---|
| Plant type | Foliage | Foliage |
| Difficulty | easy | easy |
| Light | ●●○○○ 2/5 Low to medium light |
●●●○○ 3/5 Medium indirect light |
| Water | ●●●●○ 4/5 High |
●●○○○ 2/5 Low |
| Humidity | ●●○○○ 2/5 Low |
●●●○○ 3/5 Average |
| Pet safe | Toxic to cats and dogs | Safe |
| Mature size | Small 15-30 cm (6-12 in) |
Large 90-180+ cm (3-6+ ft) |
| Growth rate | Moderate | Moderate |
| Air purifying | No | Yes |
| Native to | Central Africa | Central America |
Key differences between Lucky Bamboo and Money Tree
Money Tree is pet-safe, Lucky Bamboo is not
Money Tree is non-toxic to cats and dogs. Lucky Bamboo is toxic to cats and dogs if chewed, so it needs a shelf pets cannot reach.
Lucky Bamboo copes with less light
Lucky Bamboo needs low to medium light (2/5) - fine a few metres back from a window. Money Tree wants medium indirect light (3/5), near a bright window, out of direct sun.
Lucky Bamboo drinks far more
Money Tree wants low watering (2/5) - water when the top 3-5 cm of soil has dried out. Lucky Bamboo needs high watering (4/5): keep the soil evenly moist, never fully dry.
Money Tree needs damper air
Money Tree rates 3/5 for humidity - normal household humidity works. Lucky Bamboo rates 2/5, so ordinary room air is fine.
Money Tree is the bigger plant
Money Tree reaches 90-180+ cm (3-6+ ft) and belongs on the floor. Lucky Bamboo tops out around 15-30 cm (6-12 in), so it suits a shelf or desk.
Money Tree is the air-purifying one
Money Tree appears on the common indoor air-purifying lists; Lucky Bamboo does not. In a normal room the effect of either is modest, so treat it as a tiebreaker rather than a reason to buy.
They come from different habitats
Lucky Bamboo originates in Central Africa; Money Tree in Central America. Matching the original habitat is the quickest way to guess what each one wants indoors.
How to tell Lucky Bamboo and Money Tree apart
Lucky bamboo is a dracaena grown in water or pebbles, usually on a desk, and it is toxic to pets. The money tree is a braided-trunk floor plant in soil and is pet-safe. Both are sold as luck charms; only one of them is a real tree.
Care at a glance
Lucky Bamboo
Dracaena Sanderiana
Not actually bamboo. Grows in water or soil. Very resilient.
Care in one line: Low to medium light, keep in water or moist soil, change water regularly.
Full Lucky Bamboo care guide →
Money Tree
Pachira Aquatica, Guiana Chestnut
Braided trunk with palmate leaves. Said to bring good luck.
Care in one line: Medium to bright light, water when dry, easy care.
Full Money Tree care guide →Lucky Bamboo vs Money Tree: common questions
What is the difference between Lucky Bamboo and Money Tree? +
Lucky bamboo is a dracaena grown in water or pebbles, usually on a desk, and it is toxic to pets. The money tree is a braided-trunk floor plant in soil and is pet-safe. Both are sold as luck charms; only one of them is a real tree. On care, money Tree is non-toxic to cats and dogs. Lucky Bamboo is toxic to cats and dogs if chewed, so it needs a shelf pets cannot reach.
Which is easier to care for, Lucky Bamboo or Money Tree? +
Neither - both are rated easy. The practical difference is money tree is pet-safe, lucky bamboo is not.
Is Lucky Bamboo or Money Tree safe for cats and dogs? +
Money Tree is non-toxic to cats and dogs. Lucky Bamboo is toxic to cats and dogs if chewed, so keep it out of reach or choose the Money Tree.
Which needs less light, Lucky Bamboo or Money Tree? +
Lucky Bamboo. It scores 2/5 for light and fine a few metres back from a window. Money Tree scores 3/5 and near a bright window, out of direct sun.
Which needs more water, Lucky Bamboo or Money Tree? +
Lucky Bamboo, at 4/5 - keep the soil evenly moist, never fully dry. Money Tree scores 2/5: water when the top 3-5 cm of soil has dried out.
Comparing something else?
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