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Why Do Some Philodendrons Cost a Small Fortune?

Why Do Some Philodendrons Cost a Small Fortune?

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You likely know that philodendrons are among the most popular plants that people turn to when they’re looking to add a touch of green to their homes. These plants are full, lush, and incredibly beautiful when they’re kept in good shape.

If you’re thinking of getting a philodendron sometime soon it’ll be easy to find one. They’re regularly sold at garden centers in North America.

They can be kept indoors if you have enough room for them. Philodendrons are also good outdoor plants so long as you live in a climate that is warm enough for them.

Why are these plants so pricey, though? If you’re looking at philodendrons at a local garden center, you might be surprised that they cost as much as they do.

Read on to learn why philodendrons are so expensive. It should help you to understand what to expect when buying these plants.

Not All Philodendrons Are Expensive

The first thing to know is that not all philodendrons are expensive. You might come across some rather pricey philodendrons online from time to time.

If you’re lucky, you might even see some rare and expensive philodendrons in person at a garden center someday. There are versions of these plants that cost a lot of money, but the common types of philodendrons are affordable.

You can easily go to a local garden center and find philodendrons being sold for less than $30. If you’re looking for a common variety, don’t expect to pay a lot of cash.

It’s when you’re looking for more uncommon plants that you start having to spend big money. If you don’t care about that, it’s easy enough to buy gorgeous philodendrons that won’t break the bank.

Why Do Some Philodendrons Cost So Much Money?

There are many reasons why some philodendrons cost a lot of cash. The biggest reason why they’re expensive involves rarity.

Some philodendrons are simply much rarer than others. These plants are less common and they can be tougher to grow.

To add to this, there are philodendrons that grow much slower than others. Certain rare philodendrons take longer to produce seeds and that means that making new plants will be a long process.

There are more than 500 types of philodendrons out there. Most of these plants don’t cost a lot of money for you to own, but some of them will force you to spend a pretty penny if you want them.

What Is the Most Expensive Philodendron?

Determining exactly which philodendron is the most expensive is tough. This information might vary based on the market, but most agree that the variegated Philodendron Billietiae is consistently one of the most expensive philodendrons that you can find.

This plant has a very rare genetic configuration that makes it appeal to many people. A variegated Philodendron Billietiae has orange stems as well as leaves that have speckles of yellow.

Variegation in the wild is quite rare. It’s said that only 1 in every 100,000 plants has natural variegation.

With the rarity of the plant, it’s going to cost a lot of money. Some will pay up to $1,000 for a single leaf from a variegated Philodendron Billietiae plant.

The non-variegated version will only cost you $60 per plant on average. Even the normal version of the plant is a bit rare, but the variegated version is exceedingly rare.

To compound this, the variegation will revert to normal if it doesn’t receive the right light conditions. So they can be a bit tough to maintain for some people.

This is a plant that will truly appeal to only the most dedicated philodendron enthusiasts. It’s likely best to forget about this plant unless you have a big budget for houseplants.

Why Is Pink Princess Philodendron So Expensive?

The pink princess philodendron is another expensive type of plant that you might have heard of. These philodendrons are rather pretty, and many people want to keep them in their homes.

Pink princess philodendrons cost so much money because they’re rare. They aren’t as expensive as the variegated Philodendron Billietiae plants mentioned above, but they’re still rather costly.

Even the cuttings from pink princess philodendrons will often sell for hundreds of dollars. These plants are grown from tissue cultures in labs.

When these plants are made in the labs, only a few out of each batch will turn out properly. So very few plants actually show the pink pigmentation that people are looking for.

This plant remains very expensive due to its popularity and scarcity. They certainly do look rather nice, but you might not wish to pay the money to get one of them.

Other Types of Rare Philodendrons

There are other types of rare philodendrons that cost a lot of money. Below, you’ll learn about some of the more popular expensive philodendron options.

Spiritus Sancti

The Philodendron Spiritus Sancti is incredibly rare. It can only be found growing in Espirito Santo in Brazil.

This isn’t a plant that you’re likely going to come into contact with. It’s an endangered plant that is close to extinction.

It’s said that there are only a handful of these plants left on the planet. Despite the rarity of the plants, they’re currently valued at around $10,000 per plant.

You might think that a plant that is so rare would be more expensive than that. Hopefully, something can be done to save this plant so that it can be enjoyed by future generations.

Silver Sword

Silver Sword philodendrons are green, but the way that they shine makes them look silver. The leaves have a silvery sheen that is very appealing.

It’s also notable that this plant has sharp “sword-shaped” foliage. This is a very pretty plant that will stand out in your home if you choose to buy one.

This is an endangered plant, but it’s starting to become more common. It won’t be as costly as a pink princess philodendron, but it’ll still cost a lot more than a common philodendron.

Note that this is a climbing plant that loves to grow on trees. If you buy one, it’s wise to give it a pole to grow on.

Moonlight Philodendron

The moonlight philodendron is a gorgeous and rare plant that costs more than average. It has lime-green foliage that does make it look like moonlight in some instances.

This is a type of philodendron that grows like a shrub and it even has red-orange spikes. These spikes will turn into flowers when the time is right.

The rarity of the plant might make it a bit hard to come across this one. You won’t always see these being sold at stores.

When you do come across them, you’ll have to pay a bit more than you would for a common philodendron to procure them. Even so, they aren’t that pricey in the grand scheme of things.

Silver Cloud Philodendron

The Silver Cloud philodendron is another rare plant that many people love. This one is well-known for its leaves that have silver cloud patterns that help them to stand out.

It’s a type of climbing plant with silvery leaves that is known to grow tall. It can grow to be three feet tall and eighteen inches wide.

This plant has leaves that will be between ten and eighteen inches long. It’s a very neat-looking plant that many people are going to adore.

Expect to spend over $100 on this plant if you want to buy it. Since it’s a fairly rare plant, you won’t always be able to find it locally.

It might be easier to find the plant being sold online, but it’s not going to be inexpensive. Even so, it’s much more affordable than the rarest philodendron types.

Pick Your Favorite

Picking your favorite philodendron shouldn’t be all that hard. Some of the pretty philodendrons will cost more money, but there are many options that are affordable.

If you simply wish to own a lush green plant, you won’t need to spend an exorbitant sum of money. Common philodendrons look really nice and they won’t force you to shell out much cash.

Simply go to the local garden center and look around at what they have. You’ll surely find many philodendrons that are worth your time that are well within your price range.

Final Thoughts

You’ve learned a lot about rare philodendrons now. You know that some types of philodendrons cost a lot of money simply because they’re so rare.

Pink princess philodendrons are rare and costly, but average people can still buy them if they want to. Incredibly rare plants such as the variegated Philodendron Billietiae will be outside of most peoples’ budgets.

Thankfully, common philodendrons don’t cost much money at all. You can easily go to a store and find philodendrons being sold for less than $30.

Some will cost hundreds while others will be very affordable. It just depends on the type of plant that you’re looking at.

Decide what you want and then make sure that you have enough money to buy it. If you’re new to caring for houseplants, it’s recommended to go with a common type of philodendron.

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