Top 10 Rarest Houseplants in the World 2024: Over the past few years, the number of millennials collecting houseplants has skyrocketed, giving rise to a new subculture known as “plant influencers.”
There has been a recent trend among younger generations in cultivating plants rather than offspring. As is the case with other types of collector artefacts, the most unique houseplants are fetching prices in the thousands of dollars and inciting heated competition on online trading platforms.
The leaves and occasionally the stems of the rarest houseplants are variegated, which means that the leaves and sometimes the stems have different coloured stems that normally do not occur naturally.
In general, variegated houseplants are the rarest type. It is very challenging to cultivate variegated plants, and once they are grown, they typically require more attention and care than other plants. In addition to this, the present high demand for particular varieties has led to their rarity as well as increased pricing.
This list contains information that is, as of November 2020, as accurate as it can possibly be and will be updated as necessary.
Top 10 Rarest Houseplants in the World 2024
1. Variegated Echeveria Lola
- Current Value: $225 – $280 (prices listed by various sellers)
- Reason for Rarity: Difficult to cultivate variegation
- Country of Origin: California, USA
- Scientific Name: Echeveria Lola
The variegated variety of the Echeveria Lola is a rare and expensive houseplant, just like the majority of the other unusual houseplants on this list.
The Echeveria Lola is a hybrid that was created by the well-known echeveria breeder Dick Wright in the year 1980.
It is a cross between the Echeveria lilacina and the Echeveria derenbergii. Even though standard Echiveria Lola are stunning, the variegated varieties have a more distinctive appearance and are hence in high demand.
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The edges of the leaves of Echeveria Lola turn a reddish colour when the plant is subjected to brighter lights and lower temperatures.
2. Alocasia Azlanii
- Current Value: $75 – $300 (prices listed by various sellers)
- Reason for Rarity: Difficult to cultivate variegation
- Country of Origin: Malaysia
- Scientific Name: Alocasia azlanii
The Alocasia Azlanii, often known as the Red Mambo, is the most exquisite and difficult to find of all the Jewel Alocasias.
The leaves of the Red Mambo are highly appreciated since they have a nearly black appearance and have pinkish or reddish veins running through them.
The veining might even be a fiery pink or a vivid purple colour. Even though there is a high demand for it, there is a limited quantity of Malaysian native Alocasia Azlanii.
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The underside of the leaves of an Alocasia Azlanii plant is coloured a dark red.
3. Variegated Cotyledon orbiculata
- Current Value: $165 – $425 (prices listed by various sellers)
- Reason for Rarity: Difficult to cultivate variegation
- Country of Origin: South Africa
- Scientific Name: Cotyledon orbiculata cv variegata
South Africa is the country of origin for the succulent known as Variegated Cotyledon Orbiculata. There are many different cultivars of the plant known as Cotyledon Obiculata, and some of the variations are so uncommon that they fetch prices of several hundred dollars each. It can be challenging to import cuttings of the Cotyledon Orbiculata Variegata plant and they typically take a very long time to root. To make matters worse, Variegated Cotyledon Orbiculata are prone to rot, which makes it much more challenging to sell cuttings of the plant.
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The appearance of the various types of Cotyledon obiculata is somewhat variable; some of the kinds have leaves that are flat, while others have leaves that are lengthy, and the “Oophylla” variety has leaves that are spherical and like grapes.
4. Philodendron Pink Princess
- Current Value: $150 – $1,500 (prices listed by various sellers)
- Reason for Rarity: Difficult to cultivate variegation
- Country of Origin: Colombia
- Scientific Name: Philodendron erubescens
The leaves of the Philodendron Pink Princess have a beautiful pink colour that is mixed in with the plant’s typical dark green colour.
The Philodendron Pink Princess is certainly one of the most photogenic plants there is, which is why it is considered to be one of the most popular plant species on Instagram.
In recent years, the price of Philodendron Pink Princess cuttings has increased to as much as $1,500 due to the strong demand for the plant as well as the difficulties of its propagation by cuttings.
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The Philodendron Pink Princess is a genetic mutation of the non-variegated Philodendon erubescent, which produces dark crimson flowers. These flowers are where the Pink Princess’s name comes from.
5. Variegated Monstera Deliciosa
- Current Value: $3,461 (NZ$4,930) (price paid at auction)
- Reason for Rarity: Difficult to cultivate variegation
- Country of Origin: Auckland, New Zealand (this particular plant)
- Scientific Name: Monstera deliciosa albo variegata
It appears that Monstera plants, in general, are fetching quite a high price across a variety of online marketplaces.
At the beginning of the year 2020, a Variegated Monstera Deliciosa was sold for a price of NZ$4,930, which is equivalent to approximately $3,461. This price set a new record at the time.
The seller, who was located in Auckland, New Zealand, stated that she had originally anticipated the Variegated Monstera Deliciosa to sell for NZ$2,000 (which is equivalent to approximately $1,404), but it ended up selling for more than double her initial estimate.
As a point of reference, the price range for normal Monstera Deliciosa plants is from $20 to $60.
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The Monstera Deliciosa is commonly referred to as the “Swiss cheese plant” because to the holes that are characteristic of the plant.
6. Reverse Variegated Hoya
- Current Value: $4,563 (NZ$6,500) (price paid at auction)
- Reason for Rarity: Difficult to cultivate variegation
- Country of Origin: Hamilton, New Zealand (this particular plant)
- Scientific Name: Hoya carnosa compacta
A Reverse Variegated Hoya sold for New Zealand Dollars 6,500 (about Four Thousand Five Hundred and Sixty-Three Dollars), which was the previous record until it was surpassed by another plant on this list a few months later.
This particular variety of hoya, which had a cream or yellow colour on the inside of the leaves, was viewed more than 20,000 times on the online marketplace TradeMe.
Despite the fact that hoyas are currently quite fashionable among plant enthusiasts. The fact that the vendor labelled this particular variegation as one that is “not commonly seen” simply served to heighten people’s interest in purchasing the plant.
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Many people who are passionate about plants believe that if you keep a Hoya in a very tiny pot, it will flower more quickly.
7. Gold of Kinabalu Orchid
- Current Value: $5,000 per stem (reported price paid on the black market)
- Reason for Rarity: Only about 50 mature individuals are left in the wild
- Country of Origin: Kinabalu National Park, Malaysia
- Scientific Name: Paphiopedilum rothschildianum
Unfortunately, the Gold of Kinabalu Orchid, also known as the Rothschild’s Slipper Orchid, is a species that is at risk of extinction.
On the other hand, this does not deter enthusiastic plant collectors from searching for the Gold of Kinabalu Orchid, despite the fact that its stems can fetch as much as $5,000 in the illegal market.
Mount Kinabalu in Malaysia is the only place in the world where the rare and endangered Gold of Kinabalu Orchid may be found.
Smugglers are able to occasionally get away with stealing some Gold of Kinabalu Orchid specimens despite the fact that it is completely against the law to harvest any of these plants.
Unfortunately, the fact that the Gold of Kinabalu is so well-known and highly coveted for its aesthetic value only serves to foster illegal trade in the precious stone.
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The fact that it might take up to 15 years for the Gold of Kinabalu Orchid to blossom adds to the rarity of the flower.
8. Variegated Philodendron Minima
- Current Value: $5,300 (NZ$8,150) (price paid at auction)
- Reason for Rarity: Difficult to cultivate variegation
- Country of Origin: Auckland, New Zealand (this particular plant)
- Scientific Name: Rhaphidophora tetrasperma
A Variegated Philodendron Minima started a bidding war on TradeMe a few months into COVID-19 lockdowns, and it shattered records when it was sold for a stunning NZ$8,150 (approximately $5,300).
A botanist from Auckland, New Zealand was responsible for cultivating and selling the one-of-a-kind plant. Although there were only four leaves on this Variegated Philodendron Minima, each one featured a golden variegation pattern (normally, the leaves are merely a bright green).
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Although the botanist displayed a picture of the stems of the variegated Philodendron Minima and stated that the variegation was most likely stable and would most likely create more variegated leaves, there is always a chance that the plant would revert back to its natural non-variegated form. This was stated despite the fact that there was a possibility that the plant would produce more leaves with the variegated pattern.
9. Monstera Obliqua
- Current Value: $2,500 to $8,000 (prices listed by various sellers)
- Reason for Rarity: Difficult to propagate
- Country of Origin: Central and South America
- Scientific Name: Monstera obliqua
The Monstera craze has swept the internet, and these unusual-looking plants are quickly becoming one of the most popular choices for indoor plants all around the world.
The Monstera Obliqua, which is widely regarded as the most uncommon species of Monstera and hence the most expensive, can be purchased for a reasonable price.
The leaves of the Monstera Obliqua are lacy and delicate, and the regular Monstera plant has less pores than the Monstera Obliqua.
It is difficult to care for the fragile leaves, which contributes to the rarity of the plant and makes it challenging to propagate cuttings that may be sold.
In addition, Monstera Obliqua has a very sluggish growth rate, and it takes many years for the plant’s almost nonexistent leaves to fully mature.
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There is a common misunderstanding that Monstera Obliqua is the same as Monstera Adansonii, both of which have wider holes than other Monstera. Regrettably, dishonest vendors take advantage of this fact by using it to their advantage and frequently attempt to pass off Monstera Adansonii as Monstera Obliqua.
10.Shenzhen Nongke Orchid
- Current Value: ¥1.68 million (about $202,000) (price paid at auction)
- Reason for Rarity: Completely man-made and takes years to bloom
- Country of Origin: Shenzhen, Guandong, China
- Scientific Name: N/A
The Shenzhen Nongke Orchid is not available for purchase anywhere; yet, a specimen of the plant fetched 1.68 million Yuan (about $202,000) at an auction in 2005, making it the most precious and rarest houseplant in the entire world.
Since the process through which the Shenzhen Nongke Orchid was developed is a highly guarded secret, it is not surprising that the general public does not know very much about it.
Agricultural researchers from the Shenzhen Nongke Group spent eight years working on the development of this extremely unusual plant. The plant is entirely the product of human ingenuity.
The Shenzhen Nongke Orchid is extremely rare due to the fact that it only blooms once every four to five years.
This fact, combined with the fact that finding one is nearly impossible. Reportedly, some persons have also gotten seeds for the Shenzhen Nongke Orchid and are selling them; nevertheless, you won’t be able to find any by doing a straightforward search on Google.
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The Shenzhen Nongke Orchid is said to have a flavour that is both delicate and wonderful, according to certain sources.
Top 10 Rarest Houseplants in the World 2024 – Newshub360.net
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