15 Houseplants That Symbolize Good Luck

The language of flowers, and plants in general, is a complex one full of stories and symbolism. Much of this lore has found its way into our everyday conversations. We naturally recognize that red roses are a symbol of love and romance, for instance. 

When it comes to origins, plant symbolism shows up in different time periods and parts of the world. One notable period when this was popular was during the Victorian period in Great Britain and the United States. At this time, there was a specific flower or plant for every occasion. Receiving a bouquet of honeysuckle was a sign of devoted affection, and the iris often came bearing an important message.

In China, and especially surrounding the Lunar New Year, mandarin houseplants have an association with wealth and good luck. The Mandarin word for a mandarin orange, ‘ougan,’ sounds similar to the word for wealth. The orange color also represents gold. 

Though it has its origins in South and Central America, the concept of the money tree probably came from the Han dynasty of Chinese history. Japanese bonsai artists are likely responsible for the braided trunks, which stand for unity, growth, and stability. 

Jade plants have a long historical meaning in several cultures. Their leaves resemble coins, and their water-storing ability is linked to endurance and self-reliance. The houseplant is symbolic of good luck and prosperity, and in feng shui, it’s believed to give off qi, which is ‘vital energy.’ 

Give jade as a gift to wish the recipient abundance and prosperity. These don’t like high humidity, so keep them out of your bathroom. They prefer well-drained soil and infrequent watering. They store moisture in their leaves and prefer bright but indirect sunlight. 

Orchids have a great many meanings depending on the culture and intentions of the giver. When it comes to good luck, a green orchid is the perfect houseplant to gift. In Japan, green orchids stand for good fortune in one’s life and career. They evoke feelings of harmony and represent growth and renewal. 

The cymbidium variety ‘Key Largo Midori’ or simply ‘Midori’ is a beautiful orchid with green flowers. The waxy blooms are chartreuse with dark magenta markings on the labellum. Cymbidiums need a lot of indirect light. They like the mild temperatures of the home and need some humidity. A bathroom window is the perfect location for this one. 

The ginseng ficus is often trained as a bonsai tree and has a calming and soothing energy. In feng shui, it’s associated with prosperity and good fortune. It’s a tough plant, and its constitution often sees it associated with the ability to survive under difficult circumstances. 

Ginseng ficus likes well-draining soil and watering only when the top inch or two of the soil is dry. It’s a humidity lover, so keep it in a humid spot or provide it with a humidifier or pebble tray. It won’t mind the occasional misting. 

Desert rose is native to the southern area of the Sahara. It’s drought-deciduous, losing its foliage during times of dry weather to conserve energy and water. Otherwise, it is an evergreen with a large, swollen rootstock that shows above the soil. It’s also poisonous, so keep this one away from curious pets and children. 

Its ability to survive in harsh conditions makes it a symbol of resilience and strength. The large, colorful flowers represent abundance, and the swollen trunk indicates prosperity. Its strong tolerance of difficult conditions makes this a symbol of hope and good fortune.

Lucky bamboo seems self-explanatory, but while it’s certainly symbolic, it’s not bamboo at all! It’s actually a type of dracaena or dumb cane. The number of stalks represents different notions with two meaning love, three meaning happiness, and five representing peace and balance. 

Lucky bamboo is a symbol of health and prosperity in feng shui tradition. Place it in an easterly spot in your room for that purpose. A tiered arrangement stands for growth and success. It’s easy to care for. You can grow these in soil or directly in water.

Snake plants are one of the best houseplants for beginners, and they have good luck symbolism attached to them. They’re believed to shield a home from evil in African folklore, and in feng shui they protect your home from negative energy. The upward growth habit represents cutting through obstacles. 

These interesting succulents are incredibly resilient and tough. There are associations between it and good luck, positive energy, and wealth. This is another one that makes a great housewarming gift. It wishes the recipient health, well-being, and prosperity.

Another tough houseplant with positive, good-luck vibes is the rubber tree. This South American native is thought to harness positive energy and soften sharp corners with its rounded foliage. Other connotations include creativity, wealth, protection, abundance, and happiness. 

Rubber trees are resilient and low-maintenance. In the wild, they grow quite large, but in a container, they are more manageable. Keep this one out of direct sunlight, and let the soil dry about 50% between waterings. Over and under-watering are the biggest obstacles. 

Golden pothos are easy to care for and a great gift for someone moving into a new phase of life. It symbolizes reaching for goals and following your dreams. In Asian traditions, it represents good fortune and wealth. It’s an energy enhancer and energy booster in feng shui.

It’s almost too easy to keep these alive. They are incredibly adaptable and tolerate significant neglect. They also have strong roots that seem impervious to root rot. Cuttings root easily and can live in water alone for a long time. 

Chinese money plant has a lot of nicknames. You may know it as pilea, UFO, pancake, or missionary. It’s native to southern China and is a relative of the nettle plant. This cool evergreen has round leaves that look about the shape and size of coins. 

In feng shui, it represents prosperity, friendship, and good fortune. Naturally, it’s also associated with wealth. It’s easy to propagate, and sharing cuttings is said to strengthen bonds between the giver and the recipient. Some believe that placing a coin in the soil can attract prosperity.

Sweetly aromatic, basil is a plant with many meanings across different cultures. In Italian culture, it’s given as a gift on Valentine’s Day, and in Ancient Greece, it protected the dead on their journey to the afterlife. Tulsi, or holy basil, is a symbol of protection and purification.

Among its meanings, protection, love, and good fortune seem to pop up in numerous sources and cultures. Basil is a wonder in the kitchen and makes an excellent companion for many cuisines. Give it a sunny windowsill in your kitchen, and pinch the leaves frequently to increase branching. 

While it’s technically not clover, the false shamrock has the nickname Lucky Clover. It’s a beautiful little plant that prefers moist soil and partial shade outdoors. It also thrives indoors and even produces lovely, small purple flowers. 

This pretty perennial is linked to St. Patrick’s Day and, in many cultures, is a symbol of good fortune. It also represents transformation, bonding, resilience, and love. 

Areca palm is significant in Vastu Shastra, which is an ancient Indian system of architecture and design. This tradition connects physical structures with more abstract, cosmic energies. 

In Vastu Shastra, the areca palm represents peace and good fortune. In feng shui, it’s a symbol of prosperity and good energy. It’s resilient and low maintenance and makes an excellent addition to the interior with its linear form. 

Fortune plant is another name for Dracaena elegans, which also goes by dumb canes and corn plants. It’s easy to care for and tolerates low-light situations. In Japan, this plant symbolizes gratitude. Its upward growth habit symbolizes wealth and abundance. 

Dracaenas, in general, represent positive energy, good fortune, and prosperity. If the tree blooms, it predicts wealth and fortune will come to the home!