Plants are one of the best decorative items that can instantly change the the visual impact created by a home’s interior.
They add color and life to living spaces. Green is soothing to the eyes and it’s not often that we buy furniture in green paint walls with green paint. So plants are the perfect items to have at home to add that little bit of green that makes so big a difference.
They also cleanse the air we breath and add yang energy too.
Even for homeowners who do not love flowers and plants, many still have them indoors or outdoors simply because the presence of plants have a way of making things look just right.
While plants can refer to flowers and trees, the former was already discussed in our list of feng shui flowers. And the latter like pine trees are just too big for most residences to manage.
So in this list of the best feng shui plants for homes exclude trees and plants that are known for their flowers such as the peony and chrysanthemum.
What lucky plants are we left with?
1) Chilli peppers
This is a plant that has many western names and aliases.
Some for example are capsicum, capsaicin, paprika, etc, or simply as pepper plant.
The appearance of the fruits are like red lady-fingers, but your mouth would tell you that it’s much more hotter.
Chilli pepper plants are associated with turning around money luck towards the better, especially for business.
You can pluck them for cooking as well to add that extra spicy taste to a dish.
Just remember not to rub your eye after handling them… because it really burns.
2) Finger lemon
The finger-lemon is one odd looking plant.
Also called a fingered citron, it is nicknamed the Buddha’s hand (佛手柑) by Chinese because the fruit somewhat resembles a particular hand gesture that the beloved Buddha often makes.
This plant symbolizes a happy and long life.
While the fruit is sometimes used as ingredients in dishes and deserts, they are generally not consumed.
That’s like biting the hand that blesses you.
3) Garlic plant
No this has nothing to do with deterring vampires from visiting.
Garlic is generally considered as a good luck plant and is used extensively in TCM for it’s natural healing attributes.
In ancient times, it plays a prominent role during the period of the Dragon boat festival.
It also has a symbolic association with a rich family’s progeny.
4) Jade plant
The jade plant is one of the most auspicious plants that call on wealth luck.
The are often placed outdoors, especially along corridors so that energy entering a house via the corridor would be charged with wealth inducing chi before it enters.
They are beautiful and portable enough to have indoors to place on countertops, dining tables, and coffee tables.
So revered is it’s tendencies to attract good luck for people in their careers and businesses, that they are often used by companies in office or retailers as a front door plant.
You cannot go wrong with a jade plant at home whether it’s in the front yard garden, on the deck, or indoors in the living room.
5) Bamboo plant
The lucky bamboo probably needs no introduction for most people.
The awareness towards the bamboo plant in harvesting good luck for households is so widespread that even supermarkets that serve Chinese communities carry them for sale on prime shelf space.
This is a lucky plant that is infamous for turning around the fortunes of those suffering from bad luck.
6) Taro plant
This is a tuberous plant that was cultivated for it’s edible corms.
They are not tiny and can grow to a considerable size… yet not at big as small trees.
They are the perfect size for outdoor areas that require plants to have that extra height.
It has connotations with wealth luck, and was specifically chosen as as offerings to wealth gods.
7) Golden pothos
The golden pothos is a favorite plant in many households.
Many of which don’t even practice feng shui.
Business woman carrying plant
Other than being extremely simply to maintain, it is often used in feng shui to cleanse living spaces of negative energy.
Just don’t buy those that have a drooping form.
8) Boston fern
The boston fern plays almost exactly the same role as the golden pathos in feng shui.
The biggest difference between them is that the fern is almost exclusively meant for outdoors.
This is partly because ferns produce spores that can sometimes cause health ailments when inhaled.
9) Areca palm
The areca palm is another favorite of residential homes, especially when homeowners are trying to create that resort-style design.
They can also grow to a considerable height which can be useful to act as shields to protect from sha chi from the external environment.
10) Pachira
In some circles, the pachira is known as a money plant or money tree.
They are neutral plants, which can sometime be exactly what you want.
For example, they can be used to energize the south for recognition luck without having to ponder whether any negative effects would be ignited.
11) Sage plant
The sage plant is another plant that is well-known for it’s air-purifying abilities just like the golden pothos and boston fern.
However, unlike the pothos, the common sage has a sturdier stem that enables it to grow upwards in height.
This might be useful as make-shift room dividers or as hedges in the front yard.
12) SIlver crown
The silver crown plant is an odd looking plant… but in a positive way.
It’s succulent leaves tell of fortune. The rounded shape and silver gloss represent the metal element, the wavy edges represent the water element, while the plant itself is made of wood element.
This is a nice harmony of elements to pack in a small package.
Bad feng shui plants
In general, any types of plants that have thorns are viewed in negative light in feng shui.
The same can be said of plants that take on pointy forms.
Some are associated with too much yin energy.
Here are some to avoid.
- Cactus
- Snake plant (mother-in-law’s tongue)
- Roses
- Mandrake
- Aloe vera
- Blackberry
- Mimosa
- etc
If you are unsure of whether a plant might bring bad feng shui, the general advice is that when in doubt, do err on the side of caution.
Plants are living wood elements that can be very potent in enhancing feng shui, or destroying it.
