Using unique houseplants for indoor home decor has become increasingly popular in the last decade. If you enjoy growing and propagating houseplants, you can turn your hobby into a small business venture. To ensure your business is successful, you must know about the most profitable houseplants to grow and sell.
There is typically a trade-off between the amount of time you put into growing a plant, and how much you can sell it for. Larger plants will sell for much more than smaller plants, but they require a bigger time investment. Figuring out how to balance this trade-off is key to starting a profitable houseplant business.
Below we’ve compiled a list of the 10 most profitable plants you can grow and sell. We’ll also explain what makes each of them so profitable. Whether you plan to sell plants online or at the local farmer’s market, these plants are sure to fly off the shelf.
1. Orchids
Orchids are adored for their stunning, long-lasting blooms and are popular gift plants. They take time and patients to grow, but their profit margins can be huge.
Common species in the genus Cattleya, Dendrobium, and Phalaenopsis are easy to grow which makes them great for beginners. However, they usually won’t sell for more than $40.00 because they’re easy to find online and at garden centers.
On the other hand, rare orchids like the prized Shenzhen Nongke Orchid can sell at plant auctions for more than $100,000!
Keep in mind, orchids should be in bloom if you want to sell them for the highest price.
2. Monstera adansonii variegated
This plant is one of the most profitable houseplants you can grow. It is extremely popular due to its unique leaf coloration and fenestrations. It is also rare which makes it super profitable.
Cuttings with 3 or 4 leaves can easily sell for $60 or more online. The price will vary based on the amount of variegation and fenestration in the leaves of the cutting.
If you allow your cuttings to grow for about a year, your profit margins can greatly increase. Mature plants can be sold for more than $150 online.
3. Fiddle-leaf Fig
Fiddle-leaf fig trees (Ficus lyrata) have become a staple for interior decorators and home renovators. If you watch interior design shows, you’ll see them used in a majority of episodes. This has caused consumer demand to increase which has led to an increase in prices.
Mature fiddle-leaf fig trees can sell for $100 to $400 depending on their size. However, it will take them a couple of years to grow large enough to sell at these prices.
4. Hoya carnosa
The common name for Hoya carnosa is porcelainflower or wax plant, Hoya carnosa plants can generate a lot of income. There are many different cultivars of Hoya carnosa. The more unique and rare a cultivar is, the more you can sell them for.
The most expensive Hoya carnosa variety on the market right now is the ‘compacta’ cultivar. Mature Hindu rope specimens with variegation can be sold online for thousands of dollars!
More common cultivars and/or smaller plants usually don’t sell for more than $50 online.
5. Swiss Cheese Plant
Swiss cheese plants (Monstera deliciosa) are also known as split-leaf philodendrons. They are popular houseplants due to their gorgeous, tropical-looking foliage. They’re easy to grow and have a moderately fast growth rate which makes them a great starter plant for new businesses.
Small plants and cuttings can be sold for $10 to $30. Larger plants can sell for over $100 online.
6. Philodendron ‘Thai Sunrise’
Philodendron ‘Thai Sunrise’, also known as variegated Thai sunrise, is one of the rarest species of Philodendron out there. Their bright yellow and green leaves make them very desirable houseplants.
Depending on the size of the plant you sell, you can make hundreds of dollars per plant! Their vines can grow up to 2 inches per week. That means they can be propagated more quickly from mature plants than many other species on our list.
7. Philodendron tortum
Philodendron tortum is also known as Philodendron bipinattifidum ‘tortum’. This Philodendron stands out from others due to its finely dissected leaves. These plants are considered rare and desirable to plant collectors.
Like most philodendrons, they grow quickly which means you can propagate new plants faster. Small plants with only a few leaves can sell for $50 or more. Larger plants will sell for hundreds of dollars.
8. Monstera obliqua ‘Peru’
Monstera obliqua ‘Peru’ plants are rare which will allow you to sell them for more money. However, this Monstera species is one of the most demanding when it comes to growth and care. They are also very slow growers so you’ll have to be patient when it comes to propagating new plants.
Rooted cuttings can easily fetch around 100 dollars. Larger plants can be sold for hundreds of dollars online.
9. Syngonium ‘Red Spot Tricolor’
The mesmerizing foliage of this plant has a blend of light green and pink variegation. Its scientific name is Syngonium podophyllum. This rare, collectible plant will help you generate money for sure.
Cuttings sell for $50 to $100 while mature plants can sell for hundreds of dollars to plant collectors. These plants tend to sell out quickly. Once you start propagating them, you’ll be hard-pressed to keep them in stock.
10. Bonsai
Bonsai trees will take longer to grow and train than most other indoor houseplants, but the payoff can be incredible. Small untrained trees tend to sell for less than 100 dollars. Larger well-trained specimens can be sold for hundreds or even thousands of dollars!
In fact, the most expensive bonsai ever sold at auction brought in over 1 million dollars!
If you don’t have a lot of experience growing bonsais, consider starting out with lower-maintenance species like a ficus bonsai (Ficus spp.) or a Chinese elm bonsai (Ulmus parvifolia). These species are easier to grow and will allow you to learn how to properly care for bonsais.