Walking into your grandmother’s Connecticut home might feel like stepping back in time. Those leafy green plants sitting quietly on windowsills and in corners could actually be rare treasures worth serious money today.
Vintage houseplants have become incredibly popular with collectors, and some varieties can sell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars!
1. Monstera Deliciosa Variegata
With its stunning white and green marbled leaves, this beauty has captured the hearts of plant collectors worldwide. A single cutting can fetch anywhere from $100 to over $1,000 depending on size and variegation quality.
Grandma probably bought hers decades ago for just a few dollars at a local Connecticut nursery. The dramatic split leaves and creamy patterns make each plant completely unique.
Proper care involves bright indirect light and regular watering when soil feels dry to the touch.
2. Philodendron Pink Princess
Picture dark green leaves splashed with bubblegum pink patches that look almost painted on. This Instagram-famous plant became wildly popular around 2019, causing prices to skyrocket dramatically.
Connecticut collectors pay between $50 and $300 for well-established specimens with good pink coloring. The pink sections contain no chlorophyll, making them purely decorative and highly sought after.
Keep it in moderate light to maintain those gorgeous pink markings everyone loves.
3. Hoya Carnosa Compacta
Often called the Hindu Rope Plant, this quirky specimen features thick, twisted leaves that cascade down like green ropes. Grandma might have hung hers in the kitchen window where it slowly grew for years.
Mature plants with multiple strands can sell for $75 to $200 online. Blooms produce sweet-smelling star-shaped flowers that drip nectar.
These slow growers need patience but reward caretakers in Connecticut with incredible longevity and unique texture.
4. Anthurium Clarinervium
Heart-shaped leaves with bold white veining make this Mexican native absolutely mesmerizing to behold. The velvety texture feels soft to touch, and each leaf can grow impressively large with proper conditions.
Rare specimens command prices between $60 and $250 from serious collectors today. The dramatic veining looks hand-painted, creating natural artwork on every single leaf.
High humidity and warmth keep this tropical treasure thriving beautifully indoors year-round.
5. Begonia Maculata
Nicknamed the Polka Dot Begonia, this charmer sports olive leaves decorated with silver spots like confetti. Flip the leaves over and you’ll discover vibrant crimson undersides that add extra visual interest.
Popular among vintage plant enthusiasts, established plants sell for $30 to $100 depending on fullness. The unique two-toned coloring makes it instantly recognizable and conversation-worthy.
Bright filtered sunlight and consistent moisture help maintain those eye-catching polka dot patterns perfectly.
6. Rhaphidophora Tetrasperma Variegated
Sometimes mistaken for a baby Monstera, this fast-growing climber develops gorgeous split leaves with creamy yellow variegation. A variegated version is significantly rarer than the standard green variety found everywhere today.
Connecticut collectors eagerly pay $150 to $400 for cuttings with stable variegation patterns. The plant climbs enthusiastically when given support like a moss pole or trellis.
Watch for bright indirect light to preserve those valuable variegated sections throughout growth.
7. Alocasia Zebrina
Bold zebra stripes cover the stems of this dramatic tropical plant, creating an exotic look unlike anything else. Large arrow-shaped leaves emerge from those striking black-and-white patterned stalks, making quite the statement piece.
Well-established specimens range from $40 to $150 in today’s competitive plant market. Each stem displays unique striping patterns, almost like natural fingerprints.
Warmth and humidity keep this jungle native happy and producing new growth consistently.
8. String of Hearts Variegated
Delicate heart-shaped leaves in pink, cream, and green dangle on thin vines like tiny Valentine decorations. Grandma probably displayed hers in a hanging basket where the cascading strands could show off properly.
Variegated versions fetch $35 to $120 depending on strand length and color intensity. The trailing nature makes it perfect for shelves or macrame hangers.
Minimal watering suits this succulent-like plant that prefers drier conditions over constant moisture.
9. Scindapsus Pictus Exotica
Metallic silver splotches shimmer across dark green leaves, earning this plant the nickname Silver Satin Pothos. The reflective quality catches light beautifully, creating an almost glittery appearance that changes throughout the day.
Mature trailing plants sell for $25 to $80 in online plant marketplaces. Easy care requirements make it forgiving for Connecticut beginners yet stunning enough for experienced collectors.
Low to medium light works perfectly, making it adaptable to various room conditions effortlessly.
10. Calathea White Fusion
Swirls of white, green, and purple create an artistic masterpiece on every leaf of this stunning prayer plant. At night, leaves fold upward like praying hands, giving the Calathea family its common name.
Rare and temperamental, healthy specimens command $60 to $200 from devoted collectors. The dramatic coloring makes each plant look hand-painted by nature itself.
High humidity and distilled water prevent brown edges and keep foliage looking pristine and vibrant.
11. Philodendron Gloriosum
Enormous velvety leaves with bright white veining spread out majestically from creeping rhizomes below the soil. Each leaf can reach impressive sizes, sometimes spanning over a foot across when grown in ideal conditions.
Established plants range from $50 to $180 depending on leaf count and maturity. The crawling growth habit differs from climbing philodendrons, requiring wider pots instead of vertical support.
Consistent warmth and indirect bright light encourage those spectacular large leaves to develop fully.
12. Hoya Kerrii Variegated
Perfectly heart-shaped leaves with creamy yellow edges make this the ultimate Valentine’s Day plant. Single-leaf cuttings were popular gifts decades ago, though many never grew beyond that original heart.
Full variegated plants with multiple leaves sell for $40 to $150 nowadays in Connecticut. The succulent-like leaves store water, making care remarkably simple and forgiving.
Bright light enhances the yellow variegation while promoting new growth and occasional fragrant flower clusters beautifully.