What is a Money Tree in Animal Crossing?
A money tree in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a special type of tree that, unlike ordinary trees, produces Bells, the game’s currency, instead of fruit. These aren’t a permanent source of income; once you harvest the Bell bags, the tree reverts to a normal tree, unable to produce any further Bells. Money trees are a fun and unique feature, allowing players to obtain a large sum of Bells in a short amount of time. They are a common and essential aspect of island life for players looking to expand their homes, purchase various goods and services, or amass wealth. The process of growing one involves finding a special glowing spot each day, which leads to the opportunity to bury some Bells, with varying results.
How Money Trees Work in Animal Crossing
Finding the Glowing Spot
Each day, a single glowing hole will appear randomly on your island. This spot is marked by a small patch of glittering light on the ground. When you dig this spot up, you’ll find a bag of Bells, which is typically 1,000 Bells. However, the real opportunity lies in what you do after digging it up.
Burying Bells
Once you’ve unearthed the Bells, the hole remains, glowing still. This is where the magic happens. If you have a shovel in hand and select a bag of Bells from your inventory, you’ll have the option to bury it. The amount of Bells you bury will determine the outcome of your money tree.
The Outcome of Burying Bells
The most common result is that a money tree will grow, bearing three bags of Bells. The amount in those bags, however, isn’t always directly equivalent to how much you bury. The tree will grow within a few days. Here are the potential outcomes:
- If you bury 1,000 Bells, your tree will always yield 3 bags of 1,000 Bells each (3,000 Bells total).
- If you bury 10,000 Bells, you have a chance of your tree yielding 3 bags of 10,000 Bells each (30,000 Bells total). You may also get three 1,000 Bell bags.
- Burying more than 10,000 Bells does not guarantee a larger output of Bells and may result in three bags of only 10,000 Bells each.
- The generally accepted maximum for guaranteed 3-times payout of buried money is 10,000 bells.
- Burying 99,000 bells has a chance to yield the 30,000 bells, but may not always be successful.
Harvesting and the Tree’s Final Stage
Once the money tree has fully grown, it will sprout with three bags of Bells. When you shake the tree, these bags will fall to the ground, and you can pick them up to add them to your inventory. After you collect all the Bell bags, the money tree will revert to a normal tree and will not produce any more Bells. It is now just an ordinary tree.
The Golden Shovel
While it doesn’t directly affect the money tree itself, the golden shovel is required to move trees. If you bury the Bells in a sub-optimal location, you can move the money tree, with a golden shovel, after the sprout has appeared. This is useful if you would like to decorate with money trees, or if it is blocking a path or planned construction.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Money Trees in Animal Crossing
1. Can I bury more than 10,000 Bells in the glowing hole?
Yes, you can bury more than 10,000 Bells, and some players will bury as much as 99,000 Bells, but doing so does not guarantee that you’ll receive three times the amount you buried, and may only yield three 10,000 Bell bags. The most reliable amount to bury is 10,000, which can yield a 30,000 Bell tree.
2. Do Money Trees keep producing Bells?
No, money trees only produce Bells once. After you shake the Bell bags off the tree, it will become a regular tree and won’t grow any more Bells.
3. How do I move a money tree?
You can move a money tree once it has sprouted. Use a shovel (any standard shovel or a golden shovel), dig it up, and replant it elsewhere on your island.
4. What is the maximum amount of Bells I can bury for a guaranteed 3-times payout?
The maximum amount of Bells you can bury and be guaranteed to receive three times the amount back is 10,000.
5. Is there a limit to how many money trees I can have?
No, there’s no limit to how many money trees you can have. As long as you find the daily glowing spot you can plant a new one every day.
6. Can you use the gold shovel to plant money trees?
No, you don’t need a gold shovel to plant money trees, any standard shovel will do. The gold shovel is used to move trees, including money trees.
7. What happens if I bury less than 10,000 Bells?
If you bury less than 10,000 Bells, you will receive three times the amount you buried, meaning a reliable amount to plant for 3x growth is 1,000 bells.
8. How long does it take for a money tree to grow?
It typically takes two to three days for a money tree to fully mature after burying the Bells.
9. Can I grow money trees on other people’s islands?
Yes, if you visit another player’s island and find their glowing spot, you can bury Bells and grow a money tree there.
10. Do money trees have any special appearance features?
While growing, a money tree sprout will look like a small leafy seedling. After maturity, it appears as a fully grown tree with three visible bags of Bells on its branches. Once you harvest the Bells, it looks like a normal tree of the island it was planted in.
11. What is the highest paid item in Animal Crossing?
The most expensive item you can purchase in the game is the Crown, which costs 1,000,000 Bells.
12. Can you swim in Animal Crossing?
Yes, you can swim in Animal Crossing with a wet suit equipped. You can purchase a wetsuit from Nook’s Cranny, and then jump into the sea.
13. What is the significance of 7 leaves on a money tree?
Finding a stalk with seven leaves on a money tree is incredibly rare and said to bring immense luck to the owner. While this is not a feature in the game, it is a reference to real-world Pachira Aquatica plants, known as Money Trees.
14. What can I do with all these Bells?
Bells can be used to buy items, purchase clothes, expand your house, decorate your island, and so much more!
15. Can I buy a real-life money tree?
Yes, the plant referenced in the game is often called a Braided Money Tree and is botanically known as a Pachira Aquatica. It is widely available for purchase and is considered to be a symbol of prosperity.