🪴HOW TO & TIPS
Last week, I was scrolling when I came across something unusual: Forbes magazine talking about houseplants.
Forbes! A business and money mag that usually covers billionaires, markets, and mergers (flashback to memories as an accountant) suddenly writing about a four-inch plant.
Naturally, I had to click.
The headline?
“Houseplant Sells for $10,000.”
Turns out, it was a pink-variegated Alocasia infernalis with just two leaves.
That got me wondering: what are the most expensive plants ever sold?
Well, I did the research and compiled a list…
Wild, right?
Anyway, why does this even matter?
Here’s the thing: I’m never going to own one of these plants, and that’s the point.
Just because something sells for thousands doesn’t make it a “better” plant. In fact, some of these “grail plants” come with serious baggage:
- Monstera Albo: prone to browning and crispy variegation.
- Pink Princess: often reverts to plain green, leaving buyers disappointed.
- Obliqua: notoriously slow and fragile, more stress than joy for most owners.
Price doesn’t equal happiness. And honestly, many of the most expensive plants are status symbols first, houseplants second.
Still, I think it’s telling. A decade ago, you’d never see Forbes cover the houseplant market. Now it feels that the industry is big enough, and wild enough, to catch mainstream attention.
That’s good news for us. It means more interest, more availability, and yes — more crazy trends. But at the end of the day, what matters isn’t how much a plant is “worth” on paper. It’s how much joy it adds to your shelf, your home, and your daily life.
A question for you...