Is the money tree poisonous? Is it suitable for growing indoors?

Is the money tree poisonous? It is said that the money tree belongs to the Araceae family, and most plants in this family are toxic. Therefore, many friends who love the money tree inevitably ask this question: Is it suitable to grow the money tree indoors? After all, as a feng shui plant, the money tree is generally grown indoors.

The money tree belongs to the foliage plants of the Araceae family. Plants of this genus all have unique leaf shapes and leaf colors, making them excellent indoor ornamental plants. In particular, its name carries an auspicious meaning of generating wealth, so it is often used as a feng shui plant to decorate the home. However, there are reports claiming that the money tree is a highly toxic plant, even more potent than Gelsemium elegans.

The foliage plants of the Araceae family are fleshy, herbaceous, and their stems and leaves contain a milky sap with a special calcium oxalate component, which causes severe irritation to the skin and stomach. If its leaf sap touches sensitive skin, the facial features and teeth will swell; plants of the wilderness, birds and beasts, and butterflies and crawling insects all stay away from it; at the same time, plants growing around it will also wither and die. This shows how potent its toxicity is. Therefore, some claims suggest that if other edible herbs are found growing in the same pot, they must never be used medicinally or eaten, otherwise one will die without knowing why. People who have such plants at home must absolutely handle them with care, and must not add the soil from the money tree to other edible herbs, otherwise it will cause endless trouble.

However, Su Mingzhi, an environmental studies instructor at Tainan Community University, believes this claim is too alarmist. He stated that the money tree itself contains plant alkaloids. Although some people with more sensitive constitutions may experience skin and mucous membrane irritation after touching it, the precondition is that the plant must be damaged and the sap contacted for this phenomenon to occur.

The money tree is a rather popular large indoor bonsai plant, especially when placed in a relatively spacious living room, study, or sitting room, where it creates an elegant, simple style with a southern charm. It is a world-famous new-generation indoor foliage plant with a beautiful and neat plant shape. Although it belongs to the Araceae family, not all Araceae plants are toxic, and families growing the money tree do not need to worry too much.

The sap of the money tree is toxic, which seems to be true, but for the money tree to harm people, the precondition is that the money tree is damaged and the sap flows out. Therefore, as long as we grow and care for it carefully, the problem is not serious, but extra care should be taken when propagating by cuttings.