These 5 Houseplants Are Worth a Lot of Money!

If you have one or more of these houseplants, you might be sitting on some extra cash, as cuttings and mature plants have a high resale value.

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Plants Kseniya Ovchinnikova/Getty Images

Nurturing plants can be a relaxing, rewarding pastime. And it turns out, indoor gardening may be more rewarding than anyone imagined. A study from Money.co.uk, a price comparison website, delves into the resale value of houseplants, and some of them are worth a lot of money!

The study found eight plants in particular that had high resale value on sites like Facebook Marketplace, Etsy, and eBay. Depending on the time of year, certain plants are in high demand and sell out as quickly as they’re listed.

“In general, hard-to-find varieties are a good place to start if you’re looking to make money selling houseplants,” says Justin Costa, a veteran horticulturist at Costa Farms. “The less available a plant is, the more expensive it typically is.” 

Let’s look at the profit you could make from selling the most valuable plant bulbs, cuttings and established plants. Learn how to determine the price of a plant.

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Elephant Ear Colocasia chokchaipoomichaiya/Getty Images

Alocasias are among a group of plants known as “elephant ears” or “dragon scale,” beloved for their giant leaves. In the springtime you can find alocasia bulbs for as little as $5 to $6, although we also found single bulbs for as much as $20.

They’re quick growers, and adult plants sell for an average of $35 and up on Etsy. And because you can divide the tubers of a healthy alocasia plant to make alocasia babies, this is a plant that keeps on giving.

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Hindu Rope Plant via etsy.com

Hoya Carnosa Compacta

Also called a Hindu rope plant, hoya carnosa compacta (sometimes just called hoya) is one interesting plant. Its dark green, curly leaves grow in tight, rope-like strands, making it a great hanging plant.

Single cuttings of hoya sell for around $13 on Etsy. Once the plant takes root, you can start propagating cuttings by planting them in well-drained soil. Established hoya carnosa compacta sell for as much as $45 on Facebook Marketplace for a six-inch plant, so keep clipping those cuttings!

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Variegated Monstera via etsy.com

Variegated Monstera

Beautiful, unique and hard to find, variegated monstera, commonly called Swiss cheese plant for the holes in its leaves, is an internet sensation. Prices for this green and white, large-leaf plant are absolutely bonkers, with cuttings — cuttings! — priced at $450 and up on Etsy.

If you’re lucky enough to snag a cutting for less, or are ready to invest and are super-confident in your propagating skills, growing this rare plant can turn a part-time passion into a full-time job!

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Philodendron via homedepot.com

Green, glossy-leafed philodendrons sell for about $24 and higher at The Home Depot. Hardy and resistant to disease, the many varieties of philodendrons grow quickly and prolifically, making them great for investment.

Propagate, propagate, propagate, and these plants will keep on giving. And like philodendron minima, these plants are ready to be fruitful and multiply in about three weeks.

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Monstera Dubia via etsy.com

What to Look for When Buying Plants That Are Worth Money

Monstera Dubia

If you get your hands on a monstera dubia plant, don’t let go — it’s one of the most valuable houseplants you can own. Loved for its heart-shaped leaves and the way it clings tightly to the tree, moss pole or trellis it grows on, monstera dubia is hard to find in garden shops. Cuttings can sell for $36 and up on Etsy.

Established plants sell on the same site for an average of $110, often much higher. These trusty plants can grow one to two feet per year and reach a height of up to 10 feet, especially if they’ve got room to climb. This leaves you with a constant supply of profitable cuttings!

According to Costa, the most important things to look for when shopping for valuable plants are rarity and trendiness. “Rarity, of course, because the harder a plant is to find, the more you can charge for it. Even if a plant is pretty easy to find, being trendy keeps it in demand and makes it easier to sell.”

Costa also suggests considering the competition. “Unless you’re set up to grow out and sell large, established plants, fast-growing is a trait you might avoid. The faster/easier it is to grow, the more likely other people are also growing it, which drives the price down. But if you’re offering big statement plants, that can be a different angle to try. Look for a good story, too—so when people buy your plants, it’s because they want to buy from you!”

Why You Should Trust Us

Elizabeth Heath is a regular Family Handyman contributor, with extensive experience in ferreting out the best products and researching exactly what it is that makes them so great.

For this article we leaned on the expertise of Justin Hancock; a horticulturist at Costa Farms with over 25 years in the industry. A plant enthusiast and educator, he has a degree in horticultural science and has worked in garden centers and botanical gardens, as a garden designer and in garden publishing. Hancock is also co-host of the Costa Farms podcast Plant Rx.

How We Found the Best Plants That Are Worth Money

In addition to our own expertise, here at Family Handyman, we always lean on the best of the best for additional insights and expert advice. We spoke to gardening enthusiasts and expert horticulturists for their opinions, then researched plants extensively to get the big picture. Once we know the facts about the best plants, we scour the web to find trusted retailers with good prices, excellent quality and stellar customer reviews.