Rare Houseplants Plant-Lovers Can’t Wait to Get Their Hands On

Many of us decorate our homes with houseplants from a variety of growers, sellers, and sharers. Thanks to social media, rare houseplants are becoming even more sought-after than ever before. Audiences see a houseplant from a houseplant influencer and the next thing you know, you can’t find them anywhere.

Many factors make rare houseplants hard to find. They might be tricky to propagate or even keep alive. Further, most of our houseplants come from the jungle and transport might not be a feasible option for some. For this reason, some plants have even been stolen or “poached” by collectors without a moral compass.

Take a Look at These Rare Houseplants and Prepare to Get Plant Envy.

Twisted Cactus (Cereus Forbesii Spiralis)

The twisted cactus was once impossible to find. Cuttings were first taken from a cactus in Brazil in the early 1980s and began cropping up in different places. Today, they are becoming more common but it’s not uncommon for one to cost you north of $100.

Variegated Billietiae (Philodendron Billietiae)

Philodendrons are easy to care for and beloved among houseplant lovers. There are many rare houseplants that are from this genus. The variegated Billietiae is one such example that people can’t seem to get their hands on.

Red Butterfly Wing Plant (Christia Vespertilionis)

The Red Butterfly Wing Plant or Mariposa Plant are two names for the Christia Vespertilionis which produces leaves that look like purple butterflies taking flight. This rare houseplant from southeast Asia is a tropical that you will not encounter often IRL.

Philodendron Pink Princess (Philodendron Erubescens)

Philodendron Pink Princess is a variegated plant that comes in dramatic pink colors. This “black cherry” is one such outcome that is highly sought after. It’s a true favorite on Instagram thanks to the plant’s heart-shaped leaves that appear in all shades of pink. What a dream if you can find one!

Philodendron Golden Dragon (Thai Hybrid of Philodendron Bipennifolium)

Philodendron “Golden Dragon” is a Thai variety of the beloved genus. It’s already very hard to come by in the United States but variegated ones, like the one pictured above, are almost impossible to come across outside of Thailand. It’s one of the rare houseplants we imagine many collectors would like to call their own.

Queen Anthurium (Anthurium Warocqueanum)

With super long, thin, heart-shaped leaves the Queen Anthurium is an elegant plant and it’s easy to understand why so many want them. You won’t find one of these plants under $100 today but they have become slightly easier to find in recent months.

Black Gold Philodendron (Philodendron Melanochrysum)

Most Philendendrons are climbers and the “Black Gold” variety produces golden-orange leaves as it climbs with lower leaves that are such a velvety dark green that they’re almost black. This rare houseplant is hard to come by and people put other plants forward to trick unsuspecting buyers. So, do your homework before ordering them from an unknown source online.

Milk Confetti Syngonium (Syngonium Podophyllum)

“Milk Confetti” Syngonium is a relatively new cultivar to show up on the rare houseplants scene. They are easy to care for and to propagate so these are becoming much more affordable and available but they are still not commonplace at most garden stores today.

Yellow Variegated Monstera (Monstera Borsigiana Aurea)

Here’s our first variegated Monstera for the list. Monstera are some of the most beloved and coveted plants on the planet. Thus, their cultivars account for more than their fair share of rare houseplants. This one has a lovely golden color that gives an almost lemon-lime effect on the leaves.

Peruvian Monstera Obliqua (Monstera Deliciosa Obliqua)

One of the very, very rare houseplants you can hardly find in the US today is the Peruvian Monstera Obliqua. As you can see, the leaves are paper thin and the fenestration on the leaves is serious! Most mature leaves of a healthy plant consist of 20% of leaf while the rest of the shape is fenestrated. A holey plant that will cost you a holy fortune. If you do manage to track one down they will cost you close to $500.

White Variegated Monstera (Monstera Deliciosa Albo Variegata)

Chances are your favorite plant influencer on Instagram has gotten their hands on one of the most treasured Monstera varieties with white and green marbled leaves or even entirely white leaves. They are extremely rare houseplants that can easily cost you hundreds of dollars. Once you get one, they are relatively easy to care for but the white leaves will grow slower than others in the Monstera genus.

Monkey Leaf Variegated Monstera (Monstera Adansonii Variegata Archipelago)

A plant that’s often confused with the Peruvian Monstera Obliqua, “Monkey Leaf” Monstera is similar but has thicker leaves and is not quite as rare. But, they grow very slowly which makes them slower to get to market. One will cost you $200 easy if you can find it.

Variegated Monstera Thai Constellation (‘Thai Constellation’ Monstera Deliciosa)

One of the most stunning rare houseplants on this list was created in a lab in Thailand. It is so named for the “constellation” pattern found across the leaves. There’s so much energy and movement for the eye to follow that it makes these plants extremely rare in the US. Further, they do take more time to grow than non-variegated Monstera which also makes them hard to come by.

Tricolor Arrowhead Plant (Syngonium Podophyllum)

Sometimes called “Strawberry Ice” or “Tricolor” or “Red Spot” the Syngonium Podophyllum comes with pink, white, and green leaves that dazzle. Pink ones are fairly easy to come by all three colors is very rare. If you get your hands on one of these rare houseplants, they do great in hanging baskets.

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Silver Cloud Philodendron (Philodendron ‘Mamei Silver’)

“Silver Cloud” Philodendron is so-called for the silver color it exhibits on its huge heart-shaped leaves. They grow very well indoors but they are difficult to propagate from wild plants which makes them some of the most wanted rare houseplants. We imagine anyone would enjoy the feel of these huge leaves.

Philodendron White Princess (Philodendron Erubescens ‘White Princess’)

Philodendron “White Princess” is a trailing plant that has beautiful white variegation that can be very dramatic. Tiny cuttings of this plant can easily get $75 or more. It’s one of the easiest rare houseplants to care for when you do find one to cherish.

Gloriosum Philodendron (Philodendron Gloriosum)

Sprawling, beautiful, and velvety to the touch, the Philodendron “Gloriosum” is an absolute treasure should you find one. As with most other Philodendrons, it is very easy to care for and it spreads quickly so make sure you’ve got plenty of space for this baby to spread out. They have become less rare in recent months but they still command a price tag of about $100 or more.

Variegated Arrowhead Vine (Syngonium Podophyllum Albo Variegatum)

Instead of the three colors on the last Syngonium, we showed you, the white variegation is slightly more common but equally as dramatic and beautiful. These grow well in partial shade indoors and appreciate plenty of misting and/or a humidifier close by. What a showstopper!

Polka Dot Begonia (Begonia Maculata)

A plant with polka dots all over it? Need we say more? This gorgeous Begonia is easy to care for and they are becoming increasingly easy to find though you’ll likely have to order it online. This plant doesn’t look real! It has olive green on the front of its leaves with reds and oranges on the other side. There’s so much to love about it.

King Anthurium (Anthurium Veitchii)

Take a look at these long, long, long leaves! These rare houseplants are prized for their ruffled leaves and sophisticated appearance. If you find a mature plant under $200 you are in luck. These plants grow in the moss on the sides of trees in their native jungle habitat. Thus, they appreciate sphagnum moss to grow in instead of a typical potting mix.

Palm Leaf False Shamrock (Oxalis Palmifrons)

This South African Sorrel species is one of the finest foliage plants you will ever see. It looks like Fibonacci and M.C. Escher had some kind of botanical love child together. This plant is nearly impossible to find. You can purchase seeds but it’s a difficult journey. If you manage to get your hands on one, it loves bright, direct sun and hates cold drafts.

Red Mambo Alocasia (Alocasia Azlanii)

Alocasia “Red Mambo” is the rarest and most beautiful of the Jewel Alocasias. It is characterized by dark purple, almost black leaves with bright purple or pink veins. that go through the leaves. These rare houseplants come from Malaysia and it is so rare today that most people will never see one in person.

Variegated Rainbow Succulent (Cotyledon Orbiculata)

South Africa is home to many of the world’s most mesmerizing succulents. There are a wide variety of cultivars with Cotyledon Orbiculata and some are more prized than others. Most cost no less than $50 with the more illusive cultivars fetching several hundred dollars. These succulents are some of the most expensive rare houseplants on the planet.

Reverse Variegated Hoya (Hoya Carnosa Compacta)

Reverse Variegated Hoya plants can fetch thousands of dollars. The variegation is found on the inside of the leaf as opposed to the outside which is far more common. Hoyas are slow-growing plants that are easy to care for. With this variegation, they grow slower which makes them very rare houseplants indeed.

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Gold of Kinabalu Orchid (Paphiopedilum Rothschildianum)

We leave you with another one of the rare houseplants from Malaysia, the Gold of Kinabalu Orchid. This is a legally protected plant that grows on Mount Kinabalu. That has not stopped the smuggling of these jaw-dropping orchids. They can easily fetch thousands of dollars on the black market. Friends, rare houseplants are not going to jail over.

There you go! We hope you got a better understanding of the rare houseplants out there and the ones that are going to be more than tricky to find. The world of houseplants has exploded in recent years and we imagine more and more plants will become harder to find. So, go ahead and make that “impulse buy” the next time you see a plant you love.