History

• The names "braided" and "money" come from two sources. Braided refers to the manner in which the plants grow--weaving together, forming loose braids, as they grow vertically. The name money comes from a mythological story, in which a man prayed to the Pachira aquatica for financial help. When the man brought home the plant, his wish was fulfilled. The plant is also known as the Saba nut, Malabar chestnut and Provision tree.
  
  

Features

• The base of the tree is comprised of three to seven trunks, 1 to 3 inches wide, which wind together as they grow. The trunk color can vary from gray to grayish-green, grayish-brown or brown. Outdoors, in a tropical setting close to its native habitat, the aquatica can reach a height of 60 feet. Indoors, or in North American climates, the tree's height can be between 8 and 15 feet. Leaves are glossy and bright, and the color can be green to dark-green. The leaves grow atop the intertwined trunks in clusters of five, and can be up to 12 inches long. The plant produces flowers, which are comprised of stamens, finger-shaped extensions 2 to 5 inches long. The color of the stamens is white to pinkish-white. The fruit produced are actually seeds, which are similar to chestnuts. The seed pod can be 5 to 12 inches long and 2 to 3 inches wide. There are five seeds to one pod.
  
  

Climate and Habitat

• Outside of Central and South American climates, the tree can be grown outdoors in USDA climate zones 9 through 11 in North America. These zones correspond to the areas of Texas, Florida and Hawaii. The plant's area should mimic a tropical climate; the plant can thrive in full sun or partial shade. The aquatica can survive temperatures around 30 F for a brief time.
  
  

Seeds

• The seeds, in the same manner as hazelnuts, can be eaten raw or ground into a flour. This flour can be used to make bread or for other uses.
  
  

Considerations

• The braided pattern is achieved by manipulating multiple trees, and so a Pachira aquatica can have a single, unbraided, trunk. Frequently, it is planted in a pot with multiple trunks for an indoor specimen or planted alone to grow large as an outdoor tree.