Kentucky grandmas often keep plants that turn out to be worth far more than they look. I remember seeing a few in my own family that I didn’t think twice about until I learned their value.
These old favorites are prized by collectors now. You might be sitting on a small green treasure yourself.
1. Variegated Monstera Deliciosa
White and green marbled leaves make this plant a collector’s dream. A single cutting can sell for hundreds of dollars online, and mature plants fetch even more.
Kentucky grandmas often have massive specimens growing in their sunrooms, passed down through generations. The unique patterns on each leaf mean no two plants look exactly alike, making them incredibly desirable.
Care is surprisingly simple—bright indirect light and weekly watering keep these beauties thriving for years.
2. Hoya Carnosa Compacta
Twisted, rope-like vines covered in waxy leaves give this hoya its nickname: Hindu Rope Plant. Collectors across the country hunt for mature specimens with thick, cascading growth.
Many Kentucky homes have these hanging in kitchen windows, where they’ve grown for thirty years or more. When they bloom, clusters of star-shaped pink flowers fill rooms with sweet fragrance.
Selling prices range from fifty to several hundred dollars depending on size and fullness of the plant.
3. Philodendron Pink Princess
Bubblegum-pink splashes across dark green leaves create a stunning contrast that plant lovers can’t resist. A well-variegated specimen can command prices exceeding three hundred dollars.
Grandmas in Kentucky often received these as gifts decades ago, before anyone knew their future value. The pink coloring is unpredictable and unstable, which makes perfectly marked plants extremely rare.
Bright light helps maintain the pink variegation, though too much sun can fade the delicate coloring completely.
4. Antique African Violets
Did you know some vintage African violet varieties are considered extinct in commercial nurseries? Grandmothers who kept their plants alive for decades may own irreplaceable specimens.
Rare colors like true red or unusual petal patterns can sell for impressive amounts to specialized collectors. Kentucky homes often have entire windowsills devoted to these cheerful bloomers, propagated from original plants bought in the 1960s.
Consistent moisture and filtered sunlight keep these delicate beauties producing flowers year-round in any home.
5. String of Hearts with Tubers
Heart-shaped leaves dangle from delicate purple stems, creating a waterfall effect that’s absolutely enchanting. Mature plants with developed tubers are particularly valuable to collectors.
Many Kentucky grandmas have these trailing from high shelves, growing longer each year without much fuss. The aerial tubers that form along the stems can be used to propagate new plants, adding to their worth.
Variegated versions with pink and cream coloring can sell for even higher prices in today’s competitive plant market.
6. Vintage Pothos Varieties
Not all pothos are created equal—some older varieties are nearly impossible to find in stores anymore. Grandmas across Kentucky have kept unusual types alive through careful propagation and sharing.
Varieties like Glacier or Pearls and Jade with distinctive markings are worth considerably more than common golden pothos. A full, mature plant in a hanging basket can fetch fifty to one hundred dollars.
These forgiving plants tolerate low light and occasional neglect, which explains why they’ve survived so long in family homes.
7. Begonia Maculata
Polka-dot patterns cover the tops of silvery leaves while deep burgundy undersides create dramatic contrast. Angel wing begonias like this variety have become incredibly trendy with plant collectors recently.
Kentucky grandmothers have grown these beauties for generations, often in bright bathroom windows where humidity keeps them happy. Mature plants produce cascades of delicate pink or white flowers that add even more appeal.
Well-established specimens with multiple stems can easily sell for seventy-five to one hundred fifty dollars online today.
8. Sansevierias with Rare Patterns
Snake plants might seem common, but certain vintage varieties are anything but ordinary. Unusual leaf patterns, colors, or growth habits make some specimens highly collectible.
Grandmas in Kentucky often have these indestructible plants tucked in corners, surviving on minimal care for decades. Varieties like Moonshine with silvery-green leaves or Black Gold with yellow edges command premium prices.
A mature clump of a rare sansevieria variety can sell for one hundred dollars or more to serious collectors searching for unusual forms.
9. Christmas Cactus Heirlooms
These aren’t your typical holiday plants—some Christmas cactus varieties have been passed through Kentucky families for over a century. Unusual bloom colors like true red, peach, or multicolored flowers make certain plants particularly valuable.
Massive specimens that cascade several feet down create spectacular displays when covered in blooms. Collectors seek out these mature plants because they’re difficult to find commercially.
A large, healthy heirloom Christmas cactus can sell for seventy-five to two hundred dollars depending on age and bloom color.
10. Scindapsus Pictus Exotica
Silvery splotches shimmer across velvety green leaves, earning this plant its nickname: Satin Pothos. While it looks similar to regular pothos, it’s actually a different species entirely.
Kentucky grandmas often have these climbing up walls or trailing from shelves, their metallic sheen catching light beautifully. The Exotica variety has larger silver patches than standard Pictus, making it more desirable and expensive.
Mature plants with full growth can sell for sixty to one hundred dollars, especially when rooted in decorative vintage containers.