Yes, the pothos money plant is one of the most common names for this trailing vine. The name comes from parts of Asia where the round green leaves look like coins. People hang it in homes for wealth and luck in many old traditions.
In my experience, I first saw pothos sold as money plant at an Asian market near my home. The tag read money plant in three languages. I asked the shop owner why and he said the leaves bring cash flow to your home. That story stuck with me for years.
I have since seen the same name at feng shui shops in Chinatown and at Indian grocery stores. Many cultures use this plant for luck and wealth at home. You may find the same vine sold under three or four names in one city block.
The link to money comes from the round coin-like leaves that drape from the stems. In feng shui, round shapes pull in cash flow. The trailing vines also stand for endless growth and steady gains over time in your home or shop.
These cultural money plant names spread far beyond Asia in recent years. In India, you can buy pothos under the name money plant at most plant stalls. In Southeast Asia, the same vine sits by front doors for good luck and wealth flow.
Here is where things get tricky for you as a buyer. In the US, the name money plant also refers to the jade plant. Jade is a thick succulent with round green pads, not a vine at all. So you might ask for one and get the other by mistake.
When I first shopped online for a money plant, I got a small jade plant in the mail. It was a fine plant, but it was not what I wanted at all. I had to look up the Latin name to find the right vine on my second try at home.
Pothos has many other aliases too. The devil's ivy nickname comes from how the plant grows in low light. It stays green even in dark spots where most plants would die. Some call it devil's vine for the same reason in older garden books.
Other names you may hear include taro vine, hunter's robe, and ivy arum in different parts of the world. Each name tells you a bit about how that culture sees the plant. The list of names keeps growing each year as the vine spreads to new lands.
To find true pothos when you shop, ask for the Latin name Epipremnum aureum. This is the only sure way to get the right vine. Most plant tags now list both the common and the Latin name on the back of the pot for clear ID.
Check the leaves too. True pothos has heart-shaped leaves with a glossy waxy feel. The leaves often show gold or white streaks on a green base. If the leaves are round and thick like coins, you have a jade plant or some other money plant, not pothos.
Read the full article: Pothos Plant Care: Complete Grower Guide
