Before we delve into this list of 10 Rare Philodendrons, it’s important to note that it is not easy only to choose 10. This list certainly does not include all of the rare Philodendrons out there but is a great starting point to the Philodendron family. Now that the disclaimer is out of the way, here’s a list of 10 Rare Philodendrons!
We might as well start with a fan favorite, the Pink Princess. This plant has taken the plant world by storm, and people are still hunting for the best specimen. Naturally, the appeal of this plant is its pink variegation. But finding one with a lot of variegation can be tricky. Keeping one healthy with a lot of pink variegation can be even trickier.
An Instagram sensation, the Pink Princess Philodendron is one of the most trending plants today. They thrive in bright indirect light and require stable humidity. Letting them dry out between waterings is key, and the pink can often burn with too much direct sunlight.
One of my favorite philodendrons, the Philodendron Gigas gets better and better with age. I mean, who doesn’t love big velvety leaves? As a small plant, these guys have elongated oval-shaped leaves. As they grow more mature, these leave can get as big as 4 feet long and 4 feet wide! (Don’t worry; you don’t have to let yours get that big unless you want to.)
These plants are so easy going and can even thrive in moderate to low lighting. Much like other philodendrons, they like to dry out between waterings. The new foliage comes out in a coppery color that is so exciting to watch. When given a chance to climb, these plants will absolutely soar.
The mother of heart-shaped leaves, the Melanochrysum is a stunner of a plant. Like the gigas, mature specimens can grow extremely long, and they are just breathtaking. With their big velvety leaves, it’s hard not to love this plant.
Generally, the Melanochrysum is relatively easy going. It can do well in bright to moderate light and thrives with a moss pole or totem’s support. Like most Philodendrons on this list, letting the top few inches of soil dry out before watering is always important.
There’s something so lovely and straightforward about the Philodendron Gloriosum. With large and pillowy heart-shaped leaves, it’s hard not to fall in love with them. With bright white veins, the Gloriosum stands out from the rest.
Relatively easy-going, the Gloriosum is a crawler, which means it won’t be going up any moss pole. But that doesn’t make it any less beautiful!
Just when you thought Philodendrons couldn’t get any better, along come the hybrids. The Philodendron Glorious is precisely that; glorious. It might very well be the mother of all velvety heart-shaped leaves.
Taking the best attributes from the Melanochrysum and the Gloriosum, the Glorious likes to climb or crawl, making it quite a variable plant. It is easily one of the most beautiful Philodendron hybrids.
An undescribed Philodendron species from Ecuador, the El Choco Red is quite a beauty. Although there is a whole naming debate surrounding this plant, it is a gorgeous collectors plant. It is closely related to the Philodendron Verrocosum and Philodendron Luxurians.
What makes this plant so unique is the striking red backside of the leaves. That’s not to say that the front isn’t gorgeous too, with its velvety texture and pillowy shape.
6. Serpens
Just when you thought Philodendrons couldn’t get any fuzzier, along comes the Serpens. The most characteristic part of this plant is the fuzzy stems or petioles covered with little hairs! That’s right, hairy stems.
But hairy stems aren’t all you get with the Serpens; you also get heart-shaped leaves. The Serpens is a very quirky Philodendron that certainly stands out from the crowd.
If you like long foliage, you have to see the Philodendron Patriciae. These leaves get LONG, and mature specimens are stunning. They are not easy to find, but they make a great showpiece in any collection.
The Patriciae is a plant that loves a moss pole. If given the opportunity to climb, the leaves can double in size! This is one of my favorite plants to grow and is always just a pleasure to watch a new leaf unfurl.
9. Joepii
The Philodendron Joepii has such a unique shape that its original discoverer thought it had been half-eaten by bugs! If you are into strange and almost alien-like foliage, then this is the plant for you.
One of the most striking aspects of this plant is its long lobes or “ears.” Extremely rare in collections and even rarer in the wild, this is a must-have collector’s item for the philodendron aficionado.
Now, this plant is the rarest of the rare. The Philodendron Spiritus Sancti only exists in a handful of collections. They are very rare in the wild and are only found in Brazil in the area of Espirito Santo.
The Spiritus Sancti is the holy grail of Philodendrons. If you can find one for sale, they usually go for thousands of dollars and have recently experienced a dramatic price increase. Recent large specimens have gone for upwards of $12,000!
While this list doesn’t go over every rare Philodendron out there, it does show how beautiful and diverse the species can be. Whether you are just getting into plants or have studied them for years, Philodendrons are an incredible variety to admire and add to your collection.