14 Rare Tropical Plants That Collectors Still Want

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Monstera Obliqua

Monstera Obliqua is a highly sought-after tropical plant due to its unique and delicate foliage. Unlike other Monstera species, its leaves are thin, with holes and splits that give it a lacy appearance. This plant thrives in warm, humid environments, making it perfect for tropical plant collectors. Its rarity adds to its allure, as it is difficult to find in the wild.

With proper care, Monstera Obliqua can be grown indoors in a space with indirect light and humidity. It is a slow grower, so patience is required when cultivating this beauty. Despite its difficulty in propagation, collectors continue to covet it for its exotic look. The market value for a mature Monstera Obliqua can reach several hundred dollars, making it a prized item in any collection.

Alocasia Azlanii

Alocasia Azlanii, also known as the “purple sword” plant, is a striking tropical species known for its deep purple, glossy leaves. Native to Southeast Asia, this plant requires bright, indirect light and a consistent humidity level to thrive. Its unique coloration and texture make it a must-have for collectors looking for something extraordinary in their plant collection.

The plant is relatively rare due to its slow propagation and specific growing conditions. It is highly valued for its bold color contrast and vibrant foliage, which can make any indoor garden stand out. Alocasia Azlanii is best kept in a warm environment with regular watering, but not too much to avoid root rot. This plant remains in high demand due to its distinctive look and is often traded for significant sums. Its value in the market can exceed a few hundred dollars for a mature specimen.

Philodendron Pink Princess

The Philodendron Pink Princess is a popular tropical plant that captivates collectors with its unique combination of deep green and pink variegated leaves. This rare variety is a favorite among plant enthusiasts who appreciate its striking coloration and the challenge of caring for it. The plant requires high light and high humidity to bring out its vibrant pink tones, making it an ideal addition to a tropical-themed indoor garden.

It is not an easy plant to propagate, which only adds to its appeal. As one of the most desirable and sought-after Philodendron varieties, the Pink Princess continues to be a favorite in plant communities. Its value remains high, with mature plants often selling for a significant price, depending on their condition and variegation pattern.

Anthurium Clarinervium

Anthurium Clarinervium is admired for its beautiful heart-shaped leaves, which are deep green with prominent white veins. Known for its striking appearance and smooth, glossy texture, this plant is a rare find in tropical plant collections. It thrives in environments with high humidity and indirect light, which makes it suitable for both home and greenhouse cultivation.

Despite being slow-growing, its ornamental value is unmatched, which makes it a popular choice for collectors looking to invest in rare tropical plants. The plant is also known for producing striking spathes, adding to its allure. As a result of its rarity and demand, the Anthurium Clarinervium continues to fetch high prices on the market, especially when it reaches maturity.

Hoya Kerrii (Sweetheart Plant)

The Hoya Kerrii, often called the Sweetheart Plant due to its heart-shaped leaves, has gained popularity among tropical plant enthusiasts for its unique shape and easy care. This plant is a slow-growing vine that thrives in bright, indirect light and well-draining soil. While its small, heart-shaped leaves are the main attraction, it also produces small, fragrant flowers when given the right care.

Hoya Kerrii is highly valued for its symbolism of love and affection, making it a popular choice for gifts as well as collectors’ items. It is relatively easy to care for, but it may take some time for it to produce flowers, which adds to its appeal. The plant can be hard to find in certain areas, especially when looking for mature specimens, which often increases its value. Depending on the size and condition, mature Hoya Kerrii plants can sell for a considerable price.

Variegated String of Pearls

Variegated String of Pearls (Senecio rowleyanus) is a rare and striking variety of the popular String of Pearls plant. The variegated version is highly sought after due to its unique appearance, with a mix of green and creamy white pearls that give it a distinct look. This succulent requires bright, indirect light and well-draining soil to thrive. Unlike the standard variety, the variegated form grows slower, making it more valuable to collectors who appreciate its rarity.

The plant’s cascading vines make it an ideal choice for hanging baskets or trailing down from shelves. Despite being a relatively easy plant to care for, it is difficult to find and often sold at a premium. The market for variegated String of Pearls continues to grow as collectors seek out unique and rare succulents for their collections.

Begonia Maculata

Begonia Maculata, also known as the Polka Dot Begonia, is a striking plant that features silver spots on its deep green leaves, which create a beautiful contrast. Its unique foliage and attractive appearance make it a top choice for collectors who enjoy having rare plants in their collection. This Begonia variety requires a high level of humidity and indirect light, making it ideal for indoor settings with controlled environments.

It is a relatively fast-growing plant but is still considered rare due to its specific care requirements. With its eye-catching foliage and ease of propagation, the Begonia Maculata remains a favorite among plant collectors. Its market value continues to rise, especially for well-maintained plants that show off the characteristic spotted leaves. Depending on the size and condition, prices can range from modest to high, especially for plants with larger, more pronounced spots.

Philodendron Gloriosum

Philodendron Gloriosum is a sought-after tropical plant known for its large, velvety green leaves with contrasting white veins. This low-growing plant is often admired for its unique, heart-shaped foliage, which makes it stand out in any collection. It thrives in well-drained soil with high humidity and indirect light, which adds to its appeal as an indoor plant. Its slow growth rate and difficulty in propagation make it a rare find for collectors.

As a relatively easy-to-care-for Philodendron, it is often chosen by those looking to add a low-maintenance, yet visually appealing, plant to their collection. The plant is still rare and expensive, particularly when it reaches maturity. Prices for mature Philodendron Gloriosum plants can be quite high, especially for those with large and healthy leaves.

Calathea White Fusion

Calathea White Fusion is a highly coveted plant due to its stunning foliage, which features striking white and green patterns. Its leaves are marked with unique variegation, making it stand out in any tropical plant collection. The plant thrives in low to medium light and requires high humidity to keep its vibrant color.

While Calathea varieties are often easy to care for, the White Fusion remains one of the rarest, making it more valuable to collectors. As a slow-growing plant, it requires patience to reach maturity, but it is well worth the wait. The combination of beauty and rarity keeps this plant in high demand, and it is often sold at premium prices. For a healthy, mature Calathea White Fusion, collectors can expect to pay a significant amount due to its rarity and care requirements.

Ctenanthe Burle-Marxii

Ctenanthe Burle-Marxii is a stunning plant that features elongated, dark green leaves with silver markings, creating a beautiful contrast. Known for its striking appearance and hardy nature, this plant is a favorite among collectors looking for an eye-catching addition to their tropical collection. It thrives in medium to low light and requires consistent humidity to maintain its vibrancy.

The Ctenanthe Burle-Marxii is a relatively easy plant to care for compared to other rare tropicals, which only adds to its appeal. However, it is still difficult to find in nurseries, and mature specimens remain hard to come by. This plant’s unique foliage and ease of care make it a highly desirable option for collectors, with prices that can fluctuate depending on its size and condition.

Raphidophora Tetrasperma

Raphidophora Tetrasperma, often called the “Mini Monstera,” is a small-leaved tropical plant known for its unique and eye-catching foliage. While not a true Monstera, this plant shares similar features, including deeply lobed leaves and a vining growth habit. Its popularity has soared due to its compact size, making it ideal for indoor spaces.

The plant is easy to propagate and maintain, but its slow growth rate and high demand make it harder to find in stores. As a fast-growing vine, Raphidophora Tetrasperma requires a support structure to help it climb and thrive. Its moderate care requirements, along with its rarity in certain areas, keep the plant in demand. Mature plants can sell for higher prices, especially if they have been carefully maintained.

Cactus Epiphyllum Anguliger (Fishbone Cactus)

Epiphyllum Anguliger, also known as the Fishbone Cactus, is a unique and rare tropical cactus that thrives in shaded, humid environments. Unlike typical cacti, it is a succulent that requires less direct sunlight and enjoys high humidity, making it suitable for indoor collections. This cactus is known for its irregular, zig-zag-shaped stems, which give it the “fishbone” appearance.

During the blooming season, it produces stunning, large flowers that add to its visual appeal. It is relatively slow-growing, which adds to its rarity, as mature specimens are difficult to find. Because it is not commonly found in typical cactus collections, it remains a prized addition for collectors. The Fishbone Cactus is often sold for a premium when it is in full bloom or has been carefully cultivated.

Dischidia Pectenoides (Orchid Dischidia)

Dischidia Pectenoides, commonly known as the Orchid Dischidia, is a unique tropical plant that is highly valued for its unusual appearance and growth habits. It has thick, succulent-like leaves that are often green, although they can develop reddish hues under certain lighting conditions. The plant has a trailing growth habit and produces small, star-shaped flowers that add to its charm.

Known for being a little more challenging to grow, it thrives in a humid environment with bright, indirect light. The rarity of this plant in many tropical plant markets and its distinctive look make it a sought-after item for collectors. Dischidia Pectenoides requires patience, as it grows slowly and is relatively difficult to propagate. The plant’s value increases when it reaches a mature size and produces flowers.

Hoya Wayetii

Hoya Wayetii is a tropical vining plant known for its unique, elongated leaves with a subtle variegation of cream and green. This variety of Hoya is highly valued due to its unusual leaf shape and color, making it a standout piece in any collection. Hoya Wayetii is a slow grower but is relatively easy to care for, thriving in bright, indirect light with moderate humidity.

While it is not as common as other Hoyas, it continues to be a favorite among collectors for its hard-to-find status. The plant produces small, fragrant flowers, which add to its appeal. Because it is not easily found in most nurseries, Hoya Wayetii can be difficult to acquire, often raising its market value. The plant is a must-have for collectors who appreciate rare and beautiful tropical vines.

This article originally appeared on Avocadu.