These greens are said to bring peace and prosperity to your household.
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Despite what you might assume, there’s more to the ancient Chinese practice of feng shui than rearranging furniture. Feng Shui organizes objects and space to promote harmony and balance and improve a space’s flow of qi (or energy). To achieve this, a room’s decor matters just as much as its layout. There are even specific feng shui plants that are significant according to the customs' principles, and our guide explains everything to know before you bring home a new houseplant from the nursery.
When choosing the best feng shui plants for your space, Laura Morris, a feng shui expert, architect, and coauthor of Mindful Living, stresses the importance of their silhouette. Consider plants “with soft, heart-shaped leaves, rather than spiky plants,” because they are said to create ease and smooth qi—though Morris says this is a guideline, not a rule. Also, ask yourself whether you can properly care for your greenery (and answer truthfully). “It is important that the plants thrive and stay healthy and happy.”
As for what to avoid when choosing feng shui plants for your home? Sharp or pointed leaves are generally a no-no, but Morris says this is a general guideline, not a hard-and-fast rule. “Feng shui isn’t cookie cutter and each situation differs,” she says. “For example, a sharp-leaved plant like the snake plant can be beneficial when used with the right intention. It filters the air of toxins like benzene and formaldehyde and produces oxygen both during the day and at night. The snake plant is also a perfect expression of strong, upward wood energy that cuts through negative or stagnant energy.”
Before heading to a nursery or plant shop, you’ll want to review your bagua, which is the metaphysical map used in feng shui to examine the energy of a room. According to Morris, the components, order, and framework of the 3-by-3 grid are the same across all homes. The only differences between maps are the size and orientation, depending on floor plans and spaces.
Here’s how it works: “You superimpose [the bagua] over a home’s floor plan and each of the squares represents a different type of energy/connects to parts of your life,” Morris explains. This information lets you choose feng shui plants to elevate the positive energies in different rooms. Per feng shui principles, the target areas are the entryway, kitchen, bedroom, and family room.
Ahead is our guide to the 17 best feng shui plants, along with our expert's guidance on how it can help balance the energy in your space.
Instead of the woody brown reeds you'll find in a forest, lucky bamboo is a green and leafy feng shui plant. According to Morris, lucky bamboo represents strength, expansiveness, and good luck according to feng shui principles. Plus, Morris says, “It is small, easy to care for, and fits in a vase.”
Related Story: How to Grow Lucky Bamboo Indoors
The pothos plant is also known as the devil’s ivy, but don’t let the sinister nickname deter you; it’s on the list of the best feng shui plants for a reason. Morris says the golden pothos is one of the top air-filtering plants and one of the easiest houseplants to care for because they like sun and shade. They grow either in shadowy areas or in direct sunlight and only require watering every one to two weeks. Take note of their heart-shaped leaves, as Morris says they represent growth and self-love.
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Manifest good fortune and wealth with the help of a jade plant. Morris says this feng shui plant got its reputation as a symbol of abundance for its round, coin-shaped leaves. It “grows slowly and steadily”—like a bank account—“and you can add it to your home to cultivate wealth and prosperity.” The only catch is, you have to take good care of it, “much like your own finances,” says Morris.
Related Story: How to Care for a Jade Plant
The rubber tree is another wealth-focused feng shui plant due to its rounded, glossy leaves. Morris recommends placing the potted plant in a corner of a room and watching it grow to its full potential, which can be up to 10 feet tall. “Rubber trees are great as feng shui plants because they can grow to larger plants when cared for well,” Morris explains. “That means your qi doesn't stay small, but has the opportunity to flourish.”
In feng shui, orchids are all about commitment, as in, commitment to your partner and commitment to yourself. This is because orchids require a lot of TLC for the plant to keep flowering. Morris says the orchid is a reminder to care and nurture ourselves and others, “even in tough times,” so that we may flourish both in our relationships and personally.
Related Story: How to Repot an Orchid So It'll Continue to Grow and Thrive
The leaves of the money tree, also known as the pachira plant, grow in a cluster of five, representing all five elements of feng shui: earth, fire, wood, water, and metal. Bree Steele, an interior designer at RJ Living, says that the pachira plant is a popular choice for southeast corners in the home, aka the wealth corner, as it attracts success, prosperity, and abundance. It’s also a popular feng shui plant for offices and workspaces and is often gifted to those in new positions or entrepreneurs starting in their careers.
Related Story: How to Care for a Money Tree, the Luckiest Indoor Plant
If you want a positive energy boost, the areca palm is the answer. This feng shui plant is swarming with “qi of li,” aka life force/vital energy, encouraging personal growth and renewal. Steele says its vivacity and ability to balance humidity makes it a great choice for areas like the living room, but it’s also often found in entryways and wealth corners.
In feng shui, the peace lily is aptly named, as it represents peace and tranquility. Its white flowers and green leaves are natural air purifiers, but they’re also thought to purify the energy in a room, warding away the negative to enhance the positive. It’s a low-maintenance plant, requiring only a moderate amount of light and water, and it's best situated facing north.
Related Story: How to Care for Peace Lily Plants
The ficus plant has zhen qi; it promotes a healthy environment and atmosphere. It grows upward, symbolizing the growth and expansion of one’s life, and is typically placed facing the rising sun in the east. These feng shui plants require bright, indirect sunlight and regular watering every few weeks.
The spider plant’s leaves grow out and over its potting—it also has zhen qi. This feng shui plant represents vitality, growth, and positive changes. However, despite its seemingly wild growth, because it’s categorized as a wood element, it does not bode well in chaotic spaces.
Related Story: How to Grow a Spider Plant That'll Thrive in Your Space
African violets have a lot of dui qi, which is rooted in the mouth, making the plant a conduit for communication skills. It’s also a metal element, encouraging connectivity. While there are conflicting opinions on whether houseplants belong in the bedroom, some feng shui experts say African violets are a great choice for your sleep space because they are said to absorb electromagnetic waves of pollution (re: those emitting from your smartphone, TV, laptop, etc.).
An easy way to remember English ivy’s significance in feng shui is to think of the royal guards because the plant symbolizes protection and healthy boundaries. While it's a wooden element symbolizing vitality and personal growth, this climbing plant has zhen qi that wards off negative energies and acts as a kind of energetic security guard for your home. Note: English ivy tends to overgrow, which, feng shui experts warn, can disrupt its qi. Be sure to maintain the plant to maintain its positive output.
This sweet succulent with heart-shaped leaves is swarming with xun chi, promoting inner growth and self-understanding. Like its namesake organ, the houseplant requires tender care to keep thriving; it requires abundant sunlight and generous hydration (but not too much! Drain when necessary). For the best results, position the string of hearts facing the southeast.
When you think of aloe vera, you likely think of its physical healing properties. In feng shui, the aloe vera plant represents emotional healing, too. It’s a water element that promotes a sense of calm and harmony in your space. It’s also regarded as a lucky plant and can be housed anywhere in the home.
Related Story: The Essential Guide to Aloe Vera Plant Care
Snake plants grow vertically, sprouting sword-like leaves that point upward. They’re best known for their air-purifying capabilities, but while they absorb harmful toxins in the air, they are believed to exert positive energies. The upward trajectory of the plant also symbolizes progression in life.
Related Story: How to Care for a Snake Plant
With heart-shaped leaves and spindly vines, the heartleaf plant, unsurprisingly, represents love. It also signifies mental calmness, opening the individual up to new opportunities. It’s categorized as a wood element, so be mindful not to place it in spaces with strong fire elements.
While the monstera deliciosa (aka the "Swiss cheese plant") boasts uniquely dramatic leaves, it’s low maintenance and gives off positive vibes only. It’s especially known for attracting financial gain and should be positioned in your home's entryway to invite wealth in. It’s also a popular feng shui plant for home offices/work spaces.
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