Tucked in the sunlit nooks of grandma’s Alabama home might be more than cozy memories—there could be botanical treasures hiding in plain sight. Old pots and forgotten planters may hold rare houseplants that collectors around the world would pay a fortune for.
It’s Southern charm with serious earning potential. That leafy green sitting peacefully on the porch? It might not just be a plant—it could be a golden ticket. Some homes unknowingly shelter rare varieties that fetch thousands, all while looking like humble foliage. You could be watering your next vacation without even realizing it.
From heirloom ferns to elusive philodendrons, Southern homes are quiet goldmines for plant hunters. If you’re lucky enough to inherit grandma’s greenery, it might be worth more than china sets or photo albums—and could help wipe out that student loan, one leaf at a time.
1. Variegated Monstera Deliciosa
Grandma probably calls this her “split-leaf plant” and has no idea it could fetch up to $5,000. The white patches on these leaves aren’t signs of poor health—they’re the gold standard for plant collectors.
I spotted one in my aunt’s sunroom in Mobile last summer, casually sitting next to her rocking chair. She’d had it since the 80s and nearly fainted when I told her its value.
These plants grow slowly but can reach impressive sizes in Alabama’s humid climate, making mature specimens especially valuable.
2. Pink Princess Philodendron
Those striking pink and dark green leaves aren’t just pretty—they’re worth hundreds or even thousands depending on size and pattern quality.
The plant needs little care, which explains why it survived decades in grandma’s care. My neighbor’s mother in Huntsville had one she’d propagated from a cutting in 1975.
She’d given dozens away to church friends over the years, never knowing each cutting was worth over $200. The more pink on the leaves, the higher the value, with some exceptional specimens selling for $1,000+.
3. Fiddle Leaf Fig
That enormous tree-like plant taking up the corner of grandma’s living room? It could be worth several hundred dollars. Old specimens with multiple trunks and perfect leaves command the highest prices.
Alabama’s climate seems to agree with these finicky plants. The oldest one I’ve seen was in a Birmingham home, reaching nearly to the ceiling after 30 years of care.
What makes these valuable is how difficult they are to keep alive—so grandma’s decades-old specimen represents years of successful plant parenting that collectors will pay for.
4. Variegated String Of Hearts
Those delicate trailing vines with heart-shaped leaves might be hanging in a macramé planter since the 70s. The pink and cream variegated version can sell for $150 per cutting.
Grandma probably got it from a friend and has been sharing snippings at church plant swaps for years. The older and fuller the plant, the more valuable it becomes to serious collectors.
Southern grandmas often keep these in bright bathrooms where the humidity helps them thrive—another example of their plant wisdom that accidentally created valuable specimens.
5. Thai Constellation Monstera
Unlike its cousin the Variegated Monstera, this plant has cream-colored speckles that look like stars against the green leaves. A mature specimen can be worth $700 or more.
The steady warmth of Alabama homes creates perfect growing conditions. I remember seeing one in my childhood friend’s grandmother’s sunroom in Tuscaloosa, where it had grown to magnificent proportions.
The plant’s slow growth rate and difficulty propagating contribute to its high value, making grandma’s decades-old specimen particularly precious to collectors.
6. Mature ZZ Raven Plant
The almost-black leaves of this unusual ZZ plant variety make it a standout that can fetch $200-300 for a large specimen. Grandma might have received it as a gift, thinking it was just an ordinary houseplant.
These plants thrive on neglect, which ironically makes them perfect for preservation. The oldest one I’ve seen was in a retired teacher’s home in Montgomery—she’d forgotten its origins but had kept it alive for 15 years.
The dramatic dark foliage looks like polished obsidian when mature, making it highly sought after by designers and collectors alike.
7. Spiral Aloe
This geometric wonder forms a perfect spiral pattern and might be sitting unassumingly among grandma’s other succulents. Mature specimens can sell for $300-500 depending on size and condition.
Alabama’s hot summers actually help these plants thrive when kept outdoors part of the year. My grandmother in Selma had one on her porch for over a decade, completely unaware of its value.
The distinctive spiral growth pattern becomes more pronounced with age, making older plants significantly more valuable than younger ones you’d find at garden centers.
8. Hoya Carnosa Compacta ‘Hindu Rope’
Those weird curly vines hanging in grandma’s kitchen window? They could be worth hundreds if it’s a mature plant. The twisted, rope-like leaves are actually a mutation that makes this plant highly collectible.
These plants grow incredibly slowly, which means grandma’s specimen represents decades of patience. The oldest one I know of belongs to an 85-year-old woman in Fairhope who received it as a housewarming gift in 1972.
When they bloom, they produce clusters of star-shaped flowers with a sweet honey scent that fills the whole room.
9. Variegated Whale Fin Sansevieria
That odd single-leafed plant might look like a regular snake plant to the untrained eye, but the cream-colored edges make it worth $150-300 per leaf. The wide, paddle-shaped leaf resembles a whale fin.
Southern homes with bright, indirect light create perfect conditions for these plants. My uncle’s mother in Gulf Shores had one that was over 3 feet tall—a specimen that would make collectors swoon.
Unlike common snake plants, these rarely produce pups, making propagation difficult and keeping prices high for the foreseeable future.
10. Philodendron Spiritus Sancti
This might be the holy grail of rare plants hiding in grandma’s collection. With long, narrow leaves and a distinctive growth habit, a mature specimen can be worth $10,000 or more.
Only a handful exist outside their native habitat, making any found in Alabama exceptionally rare. A family in Birmingham discovered they had one that had been passed down for generations, completely unaware of its extraordinary value.
These plants have become almost mythical in collector circles, with people traveling internationally just to photograph them in private collections.
11. Mature Ficus Audrey
Often mistaken for its more common cousin the Fiddle Leaf Fig, a large Ficus Audrey with a thick trunk can be worth $500-800. The velvety leaves and striking white trunk make it distinctive.
Alabama’s climate allows these trees to grow much larger indoors than in northern states. I’ve seen specimens reaching 8 feet tall in sunrooms across the state, some dating back to the 1960s.
Unlike temperamental Fiddle Leafs, these plants are relatively easy to care for, which explains why grandma’s might have survived for decades while remaining relatively unknown to collectors.
12. Anthurium Clarinervium
The heart-shaped leaves with prominent white veins might look like just another pretty plant, but mature specimens sell for $200-400. Grandma probably kept it for its unique appearance, not realizing its value.
These plants thrive in Alabama’s natural humidity. The oldest one I’ve encountered was in a retired florist’s home in Dothan—she’d had it for over 20 years and it had grown to impressive proportions.
The velvety texture of the leaves makes them particularly attractive to collectors, who prize older plants with multiple large leaves.
13. Monstera Obliqua
Often confused with the more common Monstera Adansonii, true Obliquas have more hole than leaf and can sell for thousands. Grandma might have gotten it decades ago when these plants were less coveted.
The hot, humid Alabama climate mimics this plant’s natural habitat. My friend’s grandmother in Mobile had what turned out to be a genuine Obliqua that she’d kept on her screened porch since the early 1990s.
Plant experts often argue about identification, but a true Obliqua in grandma’s collection could fund a college education!
14. Philodendron Gloriosum
The heart-shaped leaves with striking white veins growing along the ground rather than climbing make this plant worth $150-300. Grandma probably kept it because it was different from her other philodendrons.
These crawling plants prefer the stable temperatures found in Alabama homes. The most impressive specimen I’ve seen was spread across a wide shelf in an elderly collector’s home in Opelika.
As they age, the leaves can grow to dinner-plate size, making mature plants particularly valuable and impressive showpieces for serious collectors.
15. Variegated Alocasia Macrorrhiza
Sometimes called ‘Elephant Ears,’ the variegated version with splashes of white can be worth $200-500. Grandma might have kept it on her porch during summer and brought it inside for winter.
These dramatic plants grow exceptionally well in Alabama’s climate. I once saw one with leaves bigger than dinner plates in an elderly woman’s sunroom in Huntsville—she’d had it for over 25 years.
The plant’s massive size and striking variegation make it a statement piece that collectors are willing to pay premium prices for, especially for well-established specimens.
16. Silver Sword Philodendron
The metallic, silvery-blue leaves of this climbing philodendron can command $150-300 for mature plants. Grandma might have gotten it as a cutting from a friend decades ago.
Many older Alabama homes have perfect light conditions for these plants. The oldest one I’ve seen was climbing up a moss pole in a retired teacher’s home in Auburn—she’d had it since the mid-1980s.
As they age, the leaves develop a more intense metallic sheen and can grow quite large, making older specimens particularly valuable to serious plant collectors.