Beautiful, expensive plants are in demand as plant lovers across the world exhaust supplies.
Expensive and rare plants have become available online and fly off the shelves faster than suppliers can offer.
Read on for a list of the most expensive house plants money can buy, and get some ideas for unique and rare house plants that you can own.
Philodendron Pink Princess
The Philodendron Pink Princess is a variety of the Philodendron Erubescens family and is a houseplant you won’t find in your local nursery.
If you do happen to find one, snatch it up quick because these extremely rare and expensive house plants are hard to find.
Pink Plant Sensation
The Half Moon Philodendron Pink Princess was given the title “2019’s Must-Have Plant” by Horticulture Week magazine and is one of the most expensive house plants.
The plant is known for its deep green leaves that look dipped in hot pink paint. Don’t expect pink flowers from this non-flowering plant.
The unusual pink variegation has led to the Pink Princess Philodendron’s adoption by plant influencers all over the internet.
A cutting for a Pink Princess Philodendron costs up to $100, and a mature plant can cost up to $2,000.
There are several other Philodendron Erubescens varieties that fetch a pretty penny.
Variegated Philodendron Minima
This lighter shade of Philodendron looks crossed with a swiss cheese plant.
It has large leaves like the Monstera but grows like the Erubescens.
The average price for a small plant is around $100, but a unique yellow variegated Minima sold for $5,000 on a large auction site.
Philodendron Tortum
This strange variety of the Erubescens family has paper-thin leaves that unravel like a corkscrew as they grow. The plant looks more like a fern than a Philodendron.
The Tortem thrives in high humidity and low light.
Medium-sized Philodendron Tortum pricing starts at $100 and can go up to $400.
Variegated Philodendron Billietiae
The Billietiae variety of Philodendron has elongated heart-shaped leaves with yellow splotches of variegation.
This genetic mutation makes this variety one of the most expensive house plants ever, with a price tag starting at $3,000.
Bonsai Trees
Although you can find basic Juniper Bonsai trees for around $50, the rare ancient varieties can cost a ton of money.
An 800-year-old miniature White Pine tree sold for $1.3 million at the International Bonsai Convention. You don’t have to pass down your bonsai tree for generations to get a high price.
The old Pine Bonsai Trees can fetch several thousands of dollars after several decades. The price varies by how well trained and pruned the tree is. The more natural-looking and miniature it is, the higher the price tag.
10-year-old Bonsai Trees cost $100 on average, and 30-year-old trees cost about $1000.
Some rare species of expensive Bonsai Tree are:
Giant Sequoia Bonsai Tree
- Judean Date Palm Bonsai Tree
- Baobab Bonsai Tree
- Dragon’s Blood Bonsai Tree
- Japanese Red Maple Bonsai
How to Care for a Bonsai Tree
Caring for a Bonsai Tree is not for everyone. They require a delicate amount of water and mist.
Be careful with Bonsais if you live in high humidity, as too much heat and moisture can suffocate your Bonsai. Without the perfect environment, your Bonsai will not last long.
Juliet Rose
The Juliet Rose got its first debut at the Chelsea Flower Show, and it took the world by storm. The developer of the Juliet Rose invested $5 million into its creation, and it took 15 years to complete.
This unique and delicate rose has paper-thin petals that form rosettes. The color is a cross between light pink and apricot. This rose has a robust peachy tea rose fragrance.
This expensive flower is elusive but can be found online from a few specialty retailers. A bouquet of a dozen Juliet Roses will cost around $200.
Variegated Monstera Plants
Although Monstera plants are rather common, variegated monstera plants can be excessive in price. The plant earned its nickname “swiss cheese plant” due to the large holes the leaves develop as it matures.
The most expensive Monstera sold was variegated Monstera Adansonii for $38,000 on a popular auction site, Trade Me. You can find the more common Monstera Adansonii for much cheaper at most garden centers.
Variegated Monsteras have unique genetic mutations that cause all sorts of shapes and patterns to form on their leaves in different colors. Their dark green leaves highlight the unique colors and patterns.
There are many types of Monstera that go for exorbitant prices.
Monstera Obliqua Plant
This strange variegated Monstera has such large holes in the leaves that there is more hole than leaf. The plant has a fragile skeletal look that interests plant lovers.
The Monstera Obliqua grows at a slow pace, with new leaves taking about 12 to 18 months to develop.
Expect to pay at least $1,500 for a Monstera Obliqua in a six-inch pot.
Mini Monstera
The Mini Monstera is a small form of its large Monstera relative, and the variegation can range from white to yellow splotches on its leaves.
You can find an average-sized Mini Monstera for about $700. These high-demand miniatures are prized by rare plant collectors.
Monstera Deliciosa Albo Variegata
This beautiful variety of Monstera has pure white splashes all over its dark green leaves and looks like a modern art piece.
The Monstera Deliciosa Albo has more chunky white blocks of variegation, whereas the popular Thai Constellation Monstera has white speckles resembling stars.
A small Monstera Deliciosa costs $800 to $1000 for a mature plant, and cuttings start at $100.
Tulip Bulb
Although Tulip bulbs are reasonable in price these days, they used to be the most expensive plant in the world during the Tulip Mania of the 17th century.
During the Dutch Golden Age, Tulips became high fashion and were prized worldwide. A Tulip bulb traded much like a modern-day stock.
The Semper Augustus Tulip bulb fetched the highest price during the peak of Tulip mania at an adjusted current price of $2,500. The Tulip prices collapsed within a few years as if the whole craze had never happened.
Rare plant collectors can still get the Semper Augustus Tulip.
Expensive Orchids
Orchids are known to be expensive plants even though they are common. There are several species that can rack up a hefty price.
When buying a new plant, check for root rot as Orchids need little water and are subject to overwatering in garden stores.
Unbeknownst to many people, Orchids have a delicate flavor. Upscale restaurants use Orchid flowers as a garnish or salad addition.
Shenzhen Nongke Orchid
This orchid is one of the most expensive plants on the earth. It is a manufactured plant that took eight years to develop. The plant originated in a university lab.
With a price tag of $200,000, this rare plant is out of reach for most plant lovers.
It is unknown whether the Shenzhen Nongke Orchid is still in production or if the original plant is still living.
Kinabalu Orchid
The Kinabalu Orchid has lime green petals with an unusual pattern composed of purple stripes and polka dots.
This expensive orchid cannot be found for less than $5,000 per plant. This rare plant are almost impossible to come by.
Kadupul Flower
The Kadupel flower is the most expensive flower on the planet. The flower blooms on a cactus that can be found in Sri Lanka.
The flower blooms once a year at night and dies before the sun rises.
Kadapul flowers are a ghost white has the nickname “ghost flower.”
This flower has never sold, which has earned it a priceless status. This is because the flower dies the moment you pick it.
Alocasia Azlanii
This luscious exotic plant has waxy chocolate burgundy leaves and is a favorite among plant lovers.
Although it’s not one of the most expensive house plants, an established plant can fetch three-figure prices, ranging from $100 to $700.
When young, the plant’s leaves are bright green. The leaves can turn from light pink to dark burgundy as the plant matures, depending on the species.
Saffron
Saffron is an expensive spice that comes from the Crocus Sativus flower. The flower sends out a stigma full of pollen, which creates the Saffron spice.
Although the plant itself is cheap, the spice comes in at $1,500 per pound, as each flower creates a minuscule amount and has to be hand-harvested.
Because of this coveted spice, Saffron is one of the most expensive plants that you can grow outdoors.
Expensive Plants: Conclusion
If you are in the market for expensive house plants, try searching online marketplaces for cuttings. You can find cuttings way cheaper than an established plant.
If you have a green thumb, you can start your own rare, expensive plants business by purchasing cuttings and growing them into adult plants. Once your plants are grown, propagate your own cuttings and sell them, or grow those cuttings into mature plants for more money.
Aim to grow rare indoor plants that are difficult to come by. Once you secure the mother plant, you can propagate more and own a part of the rare plant market.
Many of these plants are exotic and need a mild temperature and humidity to grow right. Invest in a humidifier and keep your plants insulated from the cold.
Collecting expensive house plants can be a satisfying, although costly, hobby.
Most Expensive Plant Questions and Answers
Although there are more expensive plants out there like the Bonsai, the most expensive house plants are the variegated Monstera. There have been Monsteras that have brought in over $10,000.
There has been a trend in certain house plants that have left suppliers in short supply. Because of the massive demand, plants that were common before have become the most expensive house plants. The Pink Princess Philodendron is a prime example of a plant gone viral that has become a modern expensive houseplant.
You can find the most expensive house plants through specialty retailers, auction sites, and Etsy. Etsy has become one of the most well-known online marketplaces for rare and expensive plants.
The most expensive flowers you can purchase are rare Orchids, Peonies, Gardenias, Hydrangeas, and Juliet Roses.
The short answer is yes because house plants have become in demand which has driven up the price. Between pots, soil, amendments, and plants, indoor plants can cost a lot of money as a hobby.
