I have some great news…the Money Plants are blooming! And before you all get too excited, I’m not talking about the proverbial money tree.
Rather, I’m speaking of a true species of plant called the Money Plant. I was introduced to this most wonderful of God’s plant specimens a few years ago. A wise old neighbor of mine taught me the secret of harvesting the Money Plant and creating an incredibly beautiful and unique centerpiece.
Allow me to explain…(you’re going to love this!!)
The Money Plant is what I like to think of the “ugly duckling” of vegetation. You have probably pulled up many a Money Plant in your backyard, thinking it was a common weed. I don’t blame you…for years I did the same thing. (It’s ugly!)
It looks just like any other weed!
But if you let that “weed” grow, what you will discover is a change no less amazing than an ugly worm turning into a beautiful butterfly!
If allowed to mature, the Money Plant will eventually produce some green, oval seed pods. Even though it’s still not much to look at, you will want to cut off the entire branch of “seed pods” at this point.
After you have cut all the branches containing pods, it’s time to hang them out to dry. (Literally!) I hang mine on my clothesline for a few days to dry out in the sun. Just remember to bring them in when it rains.
Drying nicely in the sun!
Once they’re completely dried out (the seed pods are brown and brittle), it’s time for magic!
I have no idea how the first person to try this came up with this idea…but the result is truly amazing! Hold one of the dried seed pods between your thumb and index finger and rub them together gently. You should start to feel the outer shell of the seed pod loosen.
After just a moment of “rubbing” the seed pod the outer shell should fall off, revealing the interior…a beautiful, opaque, very fragile “leaf”. Continue this process until the entire branch is transformed!
After you have finished peeling all of the seed pods, you will have a pile of discard shells and seeds. Don’t throw away the seeds! If you want another harvest of Money Plants for next year, collect all of the seeds that fell out and scatter them around your backyard.
The decorating potential for this marvel of nature is unending! These branches are, in my opinion, one of the Lord’s beautiful secrets of nature.
I have cut the branches into small sprigs and decorated my Christmas tree with them, I have arranged them in vases, and I have given them out as gifts.
I would love to hear some of your creative ideas! How have you used the fruit of the Money Plant?
Susan Chitty
June 23, 2021 at 6:19 am (4 years ago)Hi! When you say to scatter the money tree seeds around the yard, do you mean at the same time you harvest them or the next year? I want to grow these again next year but I want to be sure they’ll come up. Do they need to dry out over the winter? Thank you!