Rare and Unusual Plants


For the serious plant collector, Grow Tropicals maintains a curated selection of rare, unusual, and hard-to-find houseplants. We grow some ourselves and source others from trusted specialist nurseries in the UK and Europe. From sought-after Monstera cultivars and unusual aroid species to variegated rarities and collector-grade succulents, this collection brings together the plants that genuinely excite plant enthusiasts. Stock is limited and changes regularly as new plants become available.

Every rare plant is inspected by our team before dispatch to make sure it arrives in the strongest possible health. If you are building a serious collection or looking for a truly special gift, this is where to start.

1484 products

    1484 products
    Hoya cinnamomifolia 10.5cm Plants GrowTropicals

    Trailing Hoya

    Hoya cinnamomifolia

    £19.99£22.99Save 13%
    Rhodospatha sp. NOID Plants GrowTropicals

    Rare houseplant

    Rhodospatha sp. NOID

    £34.99£79.99Save 56%
    Bulbophyllum aff. levanae Plants Growtropicals

    Rare Bulbophyllum

    Bulbophyllum aff. levanae

    £19.99£24.99Save 20%
    Huernia zebrina Plants GrowTropicals

    Rare cactus & succulent

    Huernia zebrina

    £7.99
    Labisia sp Riau 6cm Plants GrowTropicals

    Rare Labisia

    Labisia sp Riau

    £29.99£79.99Save 62%
    Labisia sp Sabilit Plants GrowTropicals

    Rare Labisia

    Labisia sp Sabilit

    £40.00£80.00Save 50%
    Scindapsus 'Tricolor Dark' Plants GrowTropicals

    Trailing Scindapsus

    Scindapsus 'Tricolor Dark'

    £13.99£19.99Save 30%
    Monstera obliqua 'Suriname' 6cm Plants GrowTropicals

    Climbing Monstera

    Monstera obliqua 'Suriname'

    £25.00£45.00Save 44%
    Labisia sp Green Narrow 9cm Plants GrowTropicals

    Rare Labisia

    Labisia sp Green Narrow

    £34.99£79.99Save 56%
    Philodendron plowmanii x tenue Plants GrowTropicals

    Rare Philodendron

    Philodendron plowmanii x tenue

    £74.99£99.99Save 25%
    Rhaphidophora sp Farnwerk Plants GrowTropicals

    Rare Rhaphidophora

    Rhaphidophora sp Farnwerk

    £30.00£59.99Save 49%

    Rare Houseplants | Unusual Plants

    What Makes a Plant Rare?

    In the houseplant world, rarity takes several forms. Some plants are rare because they are difficult to propagate and grow slowly, making large-scale production impossible. Others are rare because they are recent discoveries or newly popularised species that have not yet entered mass commercial production. Variegated cultivars, where unusual leaf colouring is caused by genetic mutations, are rare because they cannot be grown from seed and must be propagated carefully from cuttings.

    Our Rare Plant Sourcing

    We grow a selection of our rare plants ourselves, using tissue culture (TC) and controlled propagation techniques to produce healthy, well-rooted specimens. Others are sourced from trusted specialist growers in the Netherlands and elsewhere in Europe, where we have longstanding relationships built on shared standards for plant health and quality.

    Variegated Plants

    Variegated aroids, including Monstera albo, Philodendron Brasil, and unusual Pothos cultivars, are among the most sought-after collector plants. Their distinctive patterning is caused by a reduction in chlorophyll in parts of the leaf, producing cream, white, or yellow sections alongside the standard green. Because variegation is genetic rather than environmental, it is stable and passed through cuttings, though each leaf is unique.

    Tissue Culture Plants

    Some of our rarest plants are available as tissue culture (TC) specimens: young plants produced in laboratory conditions from a tiny piece of plant tissue. TC production allows us to offer genuinely rare species at a more accessible scale. TC plants arrive clean, pest-free, and disease-free, though they require an acclimatisation period as they transition from laboratory to home conditions.

    Stock Availability

    Rare plants sell quickly and stock levels in this collection fluctuate as new batches become available. We recommend checking back regularly or contacting us directly if you are looking for a specific species. Signing up to our mailing list ensures you are notified when new rare stock becomes available.

    Caring for Rare Plants

    Most rare tropical plants have broadly similar care requirements to their more common relatives: bright indirect light, consistent moisture, good humidity, and warmth above 16 degrees C. Variegated plants often need slightly more light than their all-green counterparts to maintain their distinctive colouring. TC plants need gentle acclimatisation: introduce them gradually to normal indoor conditions over a week or two.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Our rare plant collection changes regularly but typically includes unusual Monstera cultivars, collector aroids, variegated species, hard-to-find succulents, and rare ferns. We also stock tissue culture plants for species that are difficult to source otherwise. Check back frequently or sign up to our mailing list for new arrivals.

    Rare houseplants command higher prices for several reasons: they are slow to propagate, require specialist growing conditions, have limited commercial availability, or carry highly sought-after traits like variegation. Variegated plants in particular cannot be grown from seed and must be propagated carefully from cuttings, limiting how quickly supply can grow.

    Tissue culture (TC) plants are produced in laboratory conditions from a tiny piece of plant tissue. This allows rare species to be propagated at scale while remaining pest and disease free. TC plants are young and small on arrival and need a gentle acclimatisation period as they transition to home conditions, but they establish quickly and are extremely healthy specimens.

    Variegated plants often need slightly more light than all-green varieties, because the white or cream areas of their leaves contain less chlorophyll and are less efficient at photosynthesis. Otherwise, their care requirements are broadly similar to the standard form of the same species. Avoid deep shade, which causes the plant to push out increasingly green leaves to compensate.

    Sign up to our mailing list to receive notifications when new rare stock becomes available. You can also follow us on social media for real-time updates. Stock in our rare collection moves quickly, so joining the mailing list is the best way to be first to know.

    Yes. All rare plants are individually packaged with specialist materials to prevent movement and protect delicate leaves in transit. We ship with next-day delivery to minimise time in the box, and every order is backed by our 7-day live arrival guarantee.