Any plant lover knows how easy it is to spend more money at the nursery than you intend. While many balks at three-figure prices, others spend thousands of dollars on one rooted cutting!

So what makes certain plants so expensive? Rarity, beauty, ease of propagation, popularity, growing time, care, and transport fees all contribute to the final cost. Variegated varieties of plants tend to be more expensive than their solid-colored counterparts. Interior design trends and the rise of social media have created a high demand for plants already in short supply.

Plants that require long-term care and storage by growers collect higher prices. The conditions needed to transport houseplants to desired locations are also factored into the cost. Consider yourself lucky if you live in an area where these expensive houseplants grow locally!

8 Most Expensive Houseplants

1. Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree

Not to be confused with a fig tree, a fiddle leaf fig tree garners prices in the hundreds when mature. These beauties produce foliage loved by interior designers, increasing the demand in recent years. This demand contributes to the price of around $400 for an established plant.

Fiddle leaf fig trees grow up to a whopping 50 feet in their native tropical rainforest environments. Indoors they grow up to 10 feet, making them an epic space filler renowned for their aesthetic appeal. Sensitive to air, light, and soil conditions, fiddle leaf fig trees require specific care, which also impacts their high cost.

To revive a dying fiddle leaf fig tree, cut the top of the trunk, and with any luck, new leaves will sprout!

2. Alocasia Azlanii

Dark, almost black-looking leaves with deep red, purple, or hot pink veins make an Alocasia azlanii plant or "Elephant Ear" pop! This stunning foliage is why collectors are willing to pay such high prices for these beauties. It only adds to their scarcity as they are native solely to the Asian island of Borneo and require the specific growing conditions of that region. As such, they are difficult to find, let alone care for and propagate.

Known as the 'red mambo,' alocasia azlaniis have only recently been cultivated and exported. Thus the supply and demand factor contributes to the high price of between $100 and $700 for a mature plant.

3. Anthurium Varieties

There are several expensive varieties of anthuriums on the market today. These include the Anthurium cystallinum and the Anthurium regale. However, nothing compares to the cost of a mature Anthurium warocqueanum or luxurians.

Known as the queen anthurium, the Anthurium warocqueanums are native to Colombia and boast leaf lengths up to four feet. The long, sturdy foliage and stately growth pattern make this plant a coveted beauty. Anthurium warocqueanums require specific water, light, and temperature conditions.  Prices can reach up to $700 for an extra-large mature plant.

One of the rarest Anthuriums, the Anthurium luxurians demands prices upwards of $1000 for an established plant. The unique, large, yet shriveled-looking foliage changes colors throughout the plant's lifespan, adding to its appeal.

4. Hoya Carnosa 'Compacta'

This twisted, trailing, semi-succulent plant appropriately goes by the name Hindu rope plant. An established Hoya Carnosa 'compacta' with creamy variegation on its inner leaves sold for a startling $6500 in 2020.

The long ropes of leaves and blooms require specific growing conditions and take up to three years to become well-established. Hindu rope plants differ in appearance from other plants of the same species. This uniqueness and the fact they are slow to propagate took root factors in the hefty cost. 

5. Philodendron Varieties

Philodendrons come in multiple varieties that boast foliage in many shapes and shades. Of the countless types of Philodendron billietiae, Philodendron sprititus-sancti sells for the highest prices. Single rooted stem cuttings cost thousands, with mature plants reaching prices up to $10,000.

The genetic mutation of a Philodendron billietiae is responsible for its stunning foliage. The bright orange stems boast variegated leaves speckled in cream. These temperamental plants require specific light and moisture requirements, which make them difficult to grow and keep alive.

6. Variegated Monstera Varieties

One of the most popular plants on the market, variegated monstera varieties are showcased in interior designs as well as on social media. The limited supply for the level of demand results in astounding prices in the thousands of dollars.

Of the countless varieties of variegated monsteras, two in particular, are famous for fetching outrageous prices. In New Zealand, a white variegated rhaphidophora tetrasperma with only nine leaves sold for almost $30,000. While an adansonii variegatata specimen brought in closer to $40,000.

Unfortunately, the stock is always limited, and slow growth and propagation rates increase this scarcity. If you're looking for a cheaper option, solid green monsteras are the way to go. 

7. Shenzhen Nongke Orchid

The Shenzhen Nongke Orchid is a man-made flowering plant developed by the Shenzhen Nongke Orchid Group in China. This agricultural research organization spent eight years in a lab developing this specific bloom that takes up to five years to flower! With blooms resembling gaping mouths with specs and pinstripes of red, these flowering plants are beautiful and rare enough to garner costs of over $200,000 for a mature plant!

8. Bonsai Trees

Last, on our list, bonsai trees are truly fascinating works of art cared for by generations of well-educated growers. Over countless years and sometimes centuries, bonsai artists restrict the growth of a regular tree through constant pruning, wiring, repotting, and grafting. The result is a beautiful mini version of the tree that fits into a small pot. These pots and the tools required to grow a bonsai tree are often handmade and cost thousands of dollars alone.

To date, the most expensive bonsai tree sold was an 800-year-old white pine which brought in over 1 million dollars in Japan. Prized for their age, history, shape, and trunk size, the cost of a bonsai tree reflects the particular care needed for a plant that lasts a lifetime.

Keep An Eye Out

Whether a plant is extremely rare, beautiful, popular, finicky, hard to propagate, or high-maintenance to transport, many factors contribute to extreme prices.

Our advice - make sure you have sincere confidence in your gardening ability before investing in these expensive houseplants!

Do you have one of these rare plants in your home? Let us know in the comments below.