14 Best Feng Shui Plants for Your Home

We already know that plants add some life and color into our spaces—but what if they could do more than that? According to Marianne Gordon of Feng Shui With Me, they can.

"Plants have innate positive chi, clear the air of allergens, and really do wonders for us," she says. "Much like caring for animals, caring for plants and the action of planting or watering elevates our chi and makes us true or more grounded," Gordon says.

Keep reading for more hidden benefits plants might have in our homes and, most importantly, Gordon's tips about where to place them to maximize their positive effects.

Meet the Expert

Marianne Gordon is a certified feng shui expert who consults worldwide. Through her signature mind-body-home awareness techniques, she helps clients establish balance in their lives.

What is Feng Shui?

Feng shui is an age-old Chinese belief that our homes are a reflection of ourselves. As a practice, feng shui intends to align your environment (like your home or office) with who you are and where you're going. To practice Feng shui, consider the things (even people!) you bring into your home, how you arrange them, and how you maintain your rooms. In feng shui, it's believed that everything, even inanimate objects, has energy (or chi.) Arranging your home according to its principles helps balance those energies and ensure it flows freely throughout your abode.1

Gordon explains that the balance of elements like water, earth, and fire are important in our homes, which, in the 21st century, are predominantly filled with the metal element. metal element. Plants—associated with the wood element—are believed to adjust that balance. "We are wired to feel at ease in the company of nature," Gordon explains.

How to Choose the Best Feng Shui Plant for Your Home

That said, Gordon warns against having too many plants at home: "When decorating with plants, be mindful that too many wood elements will also stall your thinking process. In order to think and feel clearly, we need other elements in our lives, so don't create a jungle that overrules your house."

Gordon adds that where you put your plants can have an impact on your mental clarity and suggests understanding your home's bag map (aka feng shui's floor plan to bringing good intentions to your home). Plants that support positivity give your home a karmic boost when placed in your wealth or prosperity corner. According to traditional feng shui methods, this means the southeastern corner of your home, or by Western methods, the back left corner of your home (when facing the front door). On the other hand, consider avoiding cacti, which feng shui experts say can have "spiky" or negative energy. The good news is that there are many plants that inspire positive and abundant vibes.

Ready to bring the right intentions into your home while clearing the air and practicing your green-thumb skills? These 12 plants are Gordon's holy grail of good luck and fortune.

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Citrus Tree

Botanical Name: Citrus limon (lemon), citrus sinensis (orange), and more
Sun Exposure: Bright, direct light
Soil Type: Lightweight, well-draining potting mix
Soil pH: 5.5 – 6.5

According to Gordon, whether you grow a citrus tree in an indoor patio, on a balcony, it can bring abundance into your home. It should be placed in your wealth or health gua. Citrus trees are believed to be very lucky. I used to have a grapefruit tree that grew so large, we could provide the entire neighborhood with fruit year-round. This is the true meaning of abundance: When you can provide enough for yourself and others," she says.

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Peony

Botanical Name: Paeonia lactiflora
Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Soil Type: Fertile, well-drained soil
Soil pH: 6.5 – 7

"The peony is the most popular flower to attract romance. It is lovely and rounded and exists in different shades of pinks and reds," Gordon explains. "They can be planted outdoors and take three to four years to bloom after you plant them. Peonies bloom in late spring. When they are well established, they bloom every year and can live around 100 years."

With large, lush blooms and a sweet fragrance, peonies are a popular cut flower. Just be sure not too snip too many buds from the bush—you could reduce the following year's bloom count.

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Chinese Money Plant

Botanical Name: Pilea peperomioides
Sun Exposure: Bright, indirect light
Soil Type: Free-draining potting mix
Soil pH: 6.0 – 7.5

It's not hard to see why this houseplant is considered to be one of the best for feng shui: Its round, emerald-hued leaves resemble coins. In addition to promoting wealth, good fortune, and prosperity for its owner, this trendy houseplant is relatively easy to care for, as it's not too precious about its sun and soil. Perhaps better yet, the mother plant creates offshoots (or "pups") that can be grown into new plants or gifted to friends and family—hence the Chinese money plant's other nickname, the "friendship plant."

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Orchid

Botanical Name: Orchidaceae
Sun Exposure: Bright, indirect light
Soil Type: Loosely packed bark, stones, tree fern, or other materials that promote draining and aeration2

"A symbol of fertility and creativity, white orchids can be placed in the children and creativity gua," Gordon advises. "If they are pink and have two stems, you can put them in the love gua. If they are yellow, you can place them in the center and health, and if they are purple you can display them in the wealth gua."

Like trendy tillandsia, orchids are epiphytes (air plants). In the wild, orchids attach themselves to trees and absorb water and nutrients from the air and rainfall.2 That said, they don't require soil to grow.

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Fern

Botanical Name: Polypodiopsida
Sun Exposure: Bright, indirect light
Soil Type: Rich,well-draining potting mix
Soil pH: 4 – 7

Gordon uses ferns in hanging planters in all corners of her home. "First, they look great. Second, they need little maintenance, and thirdly, corners are thought of as 'poison arrows,' meaning that when you face an angular shape, you could feel uneasy from the sharpness of the object or corner you see. I use them to hide corners in my house," she says.

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Money Tree

A Guiana Chestnut sits on a white stool in a white pot beside a wicker basket.

Botanical Name: Pachira aquatica
Sun Exposure: Bright, indirect light
Soil Type: Well-draining, peat-based potting mix
Soil pH: 6 – 7.5

Need some luck? Look no further. "For good luck, I recommend Pachira Aquatica, also known as a money tree," Gordon says. "These plants can bring luck into your life, especially during a big milestone such as opening up a new business."

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Lucky Bamboo

Botanical Name: Dracaena sanderiana
Sun Exposure: Bright, indirect light
Soil Type: Water or well-draining potting mix (kept moist)
Soil pH: 6 – 6.5

When arranging bamboo, it's important to pay attention to the number of stalks you add. "In a vase, place a few stalks of bamboos in fresh water," Gordon says. "Place five stalks in a vase for academic achievement and creativity (in your creativity area), place seven stalks in your health and family area, place eight stalks in your wealth area, and nine stalks for overall luck (you can place these anywhere, but it could also be in the center of your home.) Don't forget to change the water frequently."

08of 14

Jade

Botanical Name: Crassula ovata
Sun Exposure: Part shade
Soil Type: Sandy, well-draining potting mix
Soil pH: 6.1 – 6.5

When it comes to jade, there's no such thing as too much. "Place as many [jade plants] as you can in your home," Gordon says. "In Chinese culture, these plants are believed to attract wealth because their leaves resemble coins. Try placing those plants in your wealth corner."

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Snake Plant

Botanical Name: Sansevieria trifasciata
Sun Exposure: Bright, indirect light
Soil Type: Sandy, well-draining potting mix
Soil pH: 4.5 – 8.5

If you suffer from allergies, consider adding a snake plant to your home. "In addition to purifying the air, plants cancel the positive ions that emanate from electronics, which we are more and more surrounded with," Gordon adds.3 "This year I placed a snake plant at my doorstep, and I have not had an allergy [flare-up] yet during this allergen season."

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Peace Lily

Botanical Name: Spathiphyllum
Sun Exposure: Medium, indirect light
Soil Type: Well-draining, loose potting mix
Soil pH: 5.8 – 6.5

"Some plants naturally cancel many of the allergens and volatile organic compounds that are present in cleaning products and in most air-conditioning units," Gordon explains. Her favorite purifying plants (which luckily, are also low-maintenance!) are peace lilies and snake plants.

11of 14

Rubber Plant

Botanical Name: Ficus elastica
Sun Exposure: Bright, indirect light
Soil Type: Fertile, well-draining potting mix
Soil pH: 5.5 - 7.5

With its large, rounded leaves, the rubber plant helps promote the flow of positive energy within a space. Position one in the wealth area of your home to enhance prosperity, but make sure that your rubber plant has room to grow: They can easily become 10 feet tall with enough space.4 Of course, to reach that height, they'll need the proper care, which means plenty of bright light, routine watering, and regular fertilizing when the plant is in an active growth phase.

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Pothos

Botanical Name: Epipremnum aureum
Sun Exposure: Moderate indoor light
Soil Type: Well-drained potting mix
Soil pH: 6.1-6.5

Pothos (or Devil's Ivy) is air-purifying, so it's great to place in stagnant areas of your home. Think cupboards, dark corners, or anywhere that feels neglected. Don't worry if you forget to water it—it's incredibly low-maintenance, making it a great choice for anyone without a green thumb.

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Calathea

Botanical Name: Calathea makoyana
Sun Exposure: Low to medium light
Soil Type: Moist but well-drained
Soil pH: 6.5

Not only will this plant beautify your home (just look at its striped leaves!), but it can also help purify the air. It can help promote a better indoor environment, however, it does require a lot of care, so it's not a great choice for beginners.

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Aloe

Botanical Name: Aloe barbadensis Miller
Sun Exposure: Bright, indirect light or some daily direct sun
Soil Type: Well-draining succulent or cactus soil
Soil pH: 7.0-8.5

An aloe plant can add protective energy to your space. It combats bad luck and bad energy, as well as purifies your air. Best of all, this plant is incredibly easy to take care of.

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