In the UAE, India and Pakistan, 'money plant' nearly always means Golden Pothos, Epipremnum aureum: the fast-growing trailing plant with heart-shaped green-and-gold leaves. Elsewhere the same name is used for the jade plant, the money tree (Pachira) and the Chinese money plant (Pilea). This guide untangles the names, walks through the pothos varieties you will actually find in Dubai, and explains which one to buy for your light.
Which plant is 'the money plant'?
The name travels. In the Gulf and South Asia it means Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum), often grown in a bottle of water on a kitchen shelf. In East Asia and much of the West, 'money tree' means Pachira aquatica, the braided-trunk plant. 'Money plant' in the UK usually means the jade plant (Crassula ovata), and the round-leaved Pilea peperomioides is sold as the 'Chinese money plant'. If a Dubai nursery or a WhatsApp group says money plant with no other detail, assume pothos.
Our Golden Pothos is Epipremnum aureum, the classic money plant, and it is the one this article is about. For watering, light and propagation specifics tuned for AC apartments, see the Golden Pothos care guide.
Golden pothos varieties sold in the UAE
All of these are cultivars of the same species and need the same care. They differ in leaf colour and how much light they need to keep that colour.
- Golden Pothos: green leaves splashed with yellow-gold. The toughest and fastest; holds its colour in medium light.
- Marble Queen: heavily marbled white and green. Slower growing, and it needs brighter light or it reverts to green.
- Neon Pothos: solid chartreuse-lime leaves with no variegation. Brightest colour in bright indirect light; darker lime in shade.
- Jade Pothos: solid deep green. The best choice for the darkest corners and windowless offices.
- Manjula and N'Joy: compact, wavy, cream-and-green leaves. Collector favourites that want bright indirect light and slower growth.
Pothos vs philodendron: the common mix-up
Heartleaf philodendron (Philodendron hederaceum) is regularly sold as pothos in the UAE. Tell them apart at the leaf base: pothos leaves are thicker, slightly waxy, and the stem meets the leaf with a shallow notch; philodendron leaves are thinner, more heart-shaped with a deep notch, and new leaves emerge from a papery sheath. Both are easy; pothos tolerates more neglect and grows faster in water.
Which one to buy for your room
Match the variety to your light. A hallway, bathroom or north-facing room: Golden or Jade Pothos. A bright living room out of direct sun: any variety, including Marble Queen and Neon. A desk under office lights: Golden Pothos, which keeps growing where most plants stall. If you have cats or dogs that chew plants, skip pothos entirely: every variety contains calcium oxalate crystals and causes mouth irritation and vomiting if eaten. Choose from our pet-safe collection instead.
Golden Pothos is one of the plants we can get to you fastest: it travels well and is available for same-day delivery in Dubai on orders before 1pm. For a ready-made low-light trio without pothos, see our Low-Light Survivors set with ZZ, snake plant, Chinese evergreen and peace lily.
Growing money plant in water: does it bring luck?
The luck is folklore, but the water-growing part is real. Pothos lives for years in a jar of water, which is why it became the shelf plant of Gulf kitchens and offices. Change the water every two to three weeks, keep the jar out of direct sun, and feed with a few drops of liquid fertiliser monthly. Growth is slower than in soil, but the plant stays healthy indefinitely.
A little more clarity
Common questions.
Is money plant and golden pothos the same thing?
In the UAE, India and Pakistan, yes: 'money plant' refers to Golden Pothos (Epipremnum aureum). In other regions the name is used for the jade plant, Pachira money tree or Pilea. When a Dubai seller says money plant without further detail, it almost always means pothos.
Which pothos is best for low light?
Jade Pothos (solid green) and Golden Pothos hold up best in dim rooms and windowless offices. Heavily variegated types like Marble Queen and Manjula need brighter light or they lose their cream marbling and grow very slowly.
Is pothos the same as philodendron?
No. They are different genera that look alike. Pothos leaves are thicker and waxier with a shallow notch at the stem; heartleaf philodendron leaves are thinner with a deeper notch and emerge from a papery sheath. Care is similar, but pothos is faster and tougher.
Is golden pothos toxic to cats and dogs?
Yes. All pothos varieties contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that irritate the mouth and cause drooling and vomiting if chewed. Keep it out of reach of pets, or choose a non-toxic plant from a pet-safe range instead.
