Missouri grandmas have long tended to houseplants that brighten their homes during harsh Midwestern winters. Many of these green companions, passed down through generations, have become unexpected treasures in today’s plant-obsessed market.
What once were simply pretty decorations in Grandma’s sunroom or kitchen windowsill might actually be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars to modern collectors.
1. Variegated Monstera Deliciosa
Hidden behind lace curtains in a corner of Grandma’s living room, this striking plant with white-splashed leaves might be worth over $500 per cutting!
The unique coloration occurs randomly in nature, making each one completely different. During a visit to my aunt’s place near Springfield, I spotted one that had been growing since the 1970s. The owner had no idea her “pretty split-leaf plant” could fund a nice vacation.
Missouri’s humid summers create perfect growing conditions for these tropical beauties, which explains why they’ve thrived in older homes throughout the state for decades.
2. Pink Princess Philodendron
Stunning pink and dark green leaves make this plant a coveted treasure. Cuttings regularly sell for $100-200 online, yet many Missouri grandmothers have nurtured these beauties for decades, calling them simply “my special philodendron.”
Last summer in Branson, a local plant shop owner nearly fainted when an elderly customer brought in cuttings from her 30-year-old specimen. She had received it as a housewarming gift in the 1980s.
The plant’s dramatic coloring comes from a genetic mutation, and Missouri’s filtered indoor light creates ideal growing conditions.
3. Mature Fiddle Leaf Fig
Towering in sunrooms across Missouri, these dramatic trees with violin-shaped leaves have skyrocketed in value. A healthy 6-foot specimen can fetch upwards of $300 in today’s market.
My grandmother’s neighbor in Kansas City has one touching her 10-foot ceiling. It began as a tiny plant purchased at a church bazaar in 1965 for just 50 cents. She nearly gave it away during a move in the 1990s!
Fiddle leaf figs hate being relocated, which explains why the oldest (and most valuable) specimens are found in homes where people have lived for decades.
4. String Of Pearls
Cascading from macramé hangers in many Missouri sunporches, these delicate succulents with their bead-like leaves can sell for surprising amounts. A healthy, mature plant might bring $75-100 at specialty shops.
During a garden club tour in St. Louis last spring, members gasped at a spectacular specimen trailing over 4 feet from a handmade hanger. The owner had received it from her mother-in-law in 1983.
Missouri’s warm summer months provide excellent growing conditions, allowing these plants to thrive when many northern gardeners struggle with them.
5. Hoya Carnosa Compacta
Often called “Rope Plant” or “Hindu Rope,” these twisted, curly-leaved plants have been Missouri windowsill staples for generations. Current market value for large specimens can reach $150-200.
While visiting a small town near the Ozarks, I spotted an incredible example that had belonged to the homeowner’s grandmother since the 1950s. Its waxy, star-shaped flowers filled the room with a sweet fragrance.
Slow-growing by nature, these plants gain value with age. The oldest ones in Missouri homes sometimes trace back to Depression-era propagations shared between neighbors.
6. Staghorn Fern Wall Mount
Mounted on wooden boards and hanging like living trophies, these unusual ferns resemble deer antlers. Large, established specimens can command $250-300 from collectors seeking statement plants.
A retired schoolteacher in Jefferson City has one that’s been growing on the same cedar plank since 1975. Her late husband mounted it after bringing a tiny start home from Florida.
Missouri’s natural humidity works wonders for these epiphytic plants, which absorb moisture from the air. Many grandmothers mist them daily as part of their morning routine.
7. Mature ZZ Plant
Glossy, dark green ZZ plants have become wildly popular in recent years. Large specimens with multiple stems can fetch $100-150, especially rare varieties with black or variegated foliage.
Many Missouri basements have housed these indestructible plants for decades. During a home renovation in Springfield, contractors discovered a ZZ plant that had been growing in a forgotten corner for 15 years without water or light!
Their tolerance for neglect makes them perfect for Missouri’s seasonal temperature fluctuations. Grandmothers often call them their “impossible to kill” plants.
8. Trailing Hoya Linearis
Cascading needle-like foliage makes this unusual Hoya a standout in any collection. Current market prices hover around $75-100 for small plants, with larger specimens fetching much more.
At a garden club meeting in Columbia last fall, members were astonished by a 30-year-old example brought in by an 85-year-old member. She’d received it as a cutting from her mother’s plant.
Missouri winters provide the cool period these plants need to trigger their fragrant blooming cycle. The state’s seasonal temperature changes mimic this Himalayan native’s natural habitat.
9. Vintage Boston Fern
Massive Boston ferns with 4-foot frond spans aren’t just beautiful—they’re valuable heirlooms worth $150-200. Their size indicates decades of careful tending, making them prized by collectors.
Every summer in Hannibal, elderly residents move their enormous ferns to shaded porches. One local family has documented their fern’s lineage back to 1912, when their great-grandmother first received it as a wedding gift.
Missouri’s summer humidity creates perfect growing conditions, explaining why the state’s grandmothers have such success with these sometimes finicky plants.
10. Rare Variegated Alocasia
Elephant ear plants with white or cream splashes can be worth hundreds. These dramatic specimens create focal points in many Missouri homes, often without their owners realizing their value.
During a home assessment in St. Joseph, an appraiser nearly overlooked a stunning variegated Alocasia that had been passed down through three generations. The family thought it was just “Grandma’s spotted plant” but learned it was worth over $400.
Missouri’s warm, humid summers allow these tropical plants to put on impressive growth. Many spend summers on shaded patios before returning indoors for winter.
11. Century-Old Christmas Cactus
Massive Christmas cacti with woody, tree-like trunks tell stories of generations past. Plants over 50 years old can sell for $100-200, while true century plants become priceless family heirlooms.
A family in Joplin proudly displays their 103-year-old specimen, complete with handwritten care notes from 1918. It arrived in Missouri with their great-grandmother from Germany and blooms reliably every December.
These plants thrive in Missouri’s distinct seasons, with fall’s shorter days triggering spectacular blooming displays. Many families time holiday gatherings around their heirloom plant’s flowering schedule.