Your grandmother’s cozy Alabama home might be hiding more than just family memories and sweet tea recipes. Those leafy plants sitting quietly on her windowsills and tucked into corners could actually be worth serious money.
Rare houseplants have become incredibly valuable to collectors, and some of grandma’s green friends might just pay for a dream vacation or two.
1. Variegated Monstera Deliciosa
Collectors go absolutely wild for Monstera plants with white or cream-colored patches on their leaves. A single cutting can sell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars online. Grandma might have started hers decades ago when they were just regular houseplants.
The variegation happens naturally but rarely, making each plant unique. Check her plant corner for any Monsteras with unusual white markings. Alabama’s humidity actually helps these tropical beauties thrive indoors, so hers could be extra impressive by now.
2. Philodendron Pink Princess
With bubble-gum pink splashes across dark green leaves, this Philodendron became an Instagram sensation practically overnight. Plants that produce stable pink coloring can fetch between three hundred to over a thousand dollars depending on size and health.
Many older gardeners grew these before they became trendy collector items. Grandma’s mature plant might have multiple stems with gorgeous pink variegation. The Alabama climate provides excellent growing conditions, potentially making her specimen even more valuable to serious plant enthusiasts.
3. Hoya Carnosa Compacta
Often called Hindu Rope Plant, this twisting beauty features thick, curled leaves that cascade like green ropes. Mature plants with multiple long vines sell for impressive amounts, especially when they’re blooming with fragrant waxy flowers.
Grandmas across the South have been growing these slow-growing Hoyas for generations. If hers has been thriving for twenty or thirty years, it could be worth several hundred dollars. The patient growing time makes older specimens particularly desirable to buyers who want instant impact.
4. Anthurium Clarinervium
Heart-shaped leaves with striking white veins make this Anthurium a showstopper that collectors actively hunt for. Large, healthy specimens regularly sell for three hundred dollars or more at specialty plant shops and online marketplaces.
Alabama’s naturally humid air creates perfect conditions for these tropical plants to flourish. Grandma might not realize her pretty heart-leaf plant has become such a hot commodity. Look for the distinctive white veining pattern that makes this species so recognizable and valuable.
5. Variegated String Of Hearts
Tiny heart-shaped leaves in pink, cream, and green dangle from delicate vines on this adorable trailing plant. The variegated version has exploded in popularity, with full hanging baskets commanding prices between one hundred fifty to five hundred dollars.
Many grandmothers have been propagating these charming plants for years without knowing their current value. A well-established plant with long cascading vines becomes even more desirable. The variegation must be stable and vibrant, which mature plants often display beautifully after years of careful tending.
6. Alocasia Azlanii
Metallic copper and burgundy leaves make this rare Alocasia look almost unreal in person. Sometimes called Red Mambo, well-grown plants easily sell for two hundred to six hundred dollars depending on leaf count and overall health.
Southern gardeners sometimes received unusual plants from friends or plant swaps years ago. Grandma’s mystery plant with shimmering reddish leaves could be this valuable beauty. The dramatic coloring intensifies with proper care, and Alabama’s warm climate helps these tropical plants develop their signature metallic sheen beautifully.
7. Monstera Adansonii Variegata
Unlike its larger cousin, this Monstera stays compact with adorable holes in its leaves and stunning white variegation. Cuttings alone can sell for one hundred fifty dollars, while full plants reach into the thousands for exceptional specimens.
Grandma might have a trailing plant she calls Swiss Cheese Vine without realizing the variegated form is incredibly rare. Each leaf displays unique patterns of white and green. The combination of fenestrations (natural holes) and variegation creates a plant that serious collectors desperately want for their collections.
8. Begonia Maculata
Polka dot patterns and silvery spots decorate the angel-wing shaped leaves of this stunning Begonia. Large, mature plants have recently been selling for one hundred to three hundred dollars as interior designers and plant enthusiasts rediscover their vintage charm.
Many Southern grandmothers kept these as windowsill staples long before they became trendy again. The distinctive spotted pattern and red undersides make them unmistakable. If grandma’s plant has grown tall with multiple canes and lots of leaves, it could attract serious buyer interest from the current houseplant craze.
9. Philodendron Gloriosum
Velvety leaves with bright white veins make this crawling Philodendron absolutely mesmerizing to touch and see. Mature plants with multiple large leaves regularly sell for two hundred to five hundred dollars at specialized nurseries and plant shows.
Grandma might have received this as a pass-along plant from a friend decades ago. The leaves can grow impressively large when the plant is happy and well-established. Alabama’s climate suits these tropical beauties perfectly, potentially giving her specimen exceptional size and that coveted deep velvet texture collectors adore.
10. Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma Variegated
Often mistaken for a mini Monstera, this fast-growing plant with white variegation has become extremely sought-after recently. Even small variegated cuttings sell for one hundred dollars, while established plants command three hundred to eight hundred dollars.
Your grandmother might have one growing vigorously without knowing its trendy nickname or current market value. The split leaves and climbing habit make it easy to spot. Variegated versions remain quite rare, so any plant showing consistent white or cream markings could be a genuine treasure hiding in plain sight.
11. Syngonium Albo Variegata
Arrow-shaped leaves splashed with pure white variegation make this Syngonium a collector’s dream plant. Stable variegation increases the value significantly, with mature plants fetching between one hundred fifty to four hundred dollars from eager buyers.
Many grandmothers have been growing regular Syngoniums for years, but the variegated form is considerably rarer. Check her collection for any plants with white sections on the leaves. These adaptable plants thrive in Alabama’s conditions, so hers might be particularly lush and full, making it even more attractive to potential buyers.
12. Scindapsus Pictus Exotica
Silvery splotches cover the heart-shaped leaves of this gorgeous trailing plant, creating an almost painted appearance. Large, full hanging baskets of this particular variety can sell for one hundred to two hundred fifty dollars to decorators and plant collectors.
Grandma probably knows this as Satin Pothos and has been growing it for years as an easy houseplant. The Exotica variety shows more silver than regular types, making it more valuable. Alabama’s humidity helps these plants grow thick and lush, potentially making her long-established specimen worth more than expected.
13. Hoya Kerrii Variegata
Heart-shaped leaves with cream and green variegation make this Hoya absolutely adorable and highly collectible. Single-leaf cuttings sell for fifty dollars, while rooted plants with multiple hearts can reach two hundred to four hundred dollars easily.
Often called Sweetheart Plant, the variegated version is much rarer than the solid green type. Grandma might have received hers as a Valentine’s gift years ago and watched it slowly grow. If her plant has developed into a vine with several variegated leaves, it’s become quite valuable without her even realizing it.