Is the money string plant toxic? Know the facts before you grow it for peace of mind
The money string plant is not toxic. Another creature with a similar name, the money string insect, also known as the centipede (scutigera), is the one that has some toxicity, while the money string plant is completely non-toxic. It lives in environments of around 20-30 degrees Celsius, and is a plant whose scientific name is the money tree (Zamioculcas zamiifolia), belonging to the Araceae family of tropical herbaceous plants.
Is the money string plant toxic?
1. Scientific name
The reason the money string plant is misunderstood as toxic is that it has a similar name to another insect also commonly called the money string. The money string insect has the scientific name Scutigera, is related to the centipede, and is a toxic many-legged insect, while the money string plant has the scientific name money tree (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) and is a completely non-toxic succulent plant.
2. Plant characteristics
The money string plant is a tropical herbaceous plant native to Zambia in East Africa, belonging to ornamental succulents. It gets the name money string because its shape resembles stacked coins, but this plant is completely non-toxic, from its sap to its fleshy leaves to the plant body itself, exactly like ordinary succulents.
3. Growing environment
The money string plant is suited to growing in a relatively warm and humid environment. The most suitable temperature range for its growth is about 20-30 degrees Celsius. It can grow and develop normally whether potted or planted in the ground, and it has strong shade tolerance, so even if the sunlight is not very abundant, the money string plant can still grow and develop normally.
4. Care
When growing the money string plant, we only need to pay attention to one thing: do not place the plant in a sealed indoor space, because this plant absorbs oxygen and releases carbon dioxide at night, which can easily make the air in a small sealed space stuffy. Therefore, we should try to place it on a balcony with better ventilation and sufficient light.