15 original and rare plants

Monstera deliciosa, pothos, and Pilea peperomioides are the most popular plants on our app and in garden centers. Even though we love them, sometimes we want something different. If you're dreaming of a variety you don't see every day, or a species that hasn't taken over social media yet, here's our selection of 15 unique plants that will make your collection one-of-a-kind.

#1 The Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae)

Will the bird of paradise dethrone the Monstera deliciosa in our homes? Photo by Bouzid27 / Deviantart

The bird of paradise (Strelitzia reginae) is sure to delight collectors looking for an extra-large plant that's more unique than the Monstera deliciosa. Its elliptical leaves measure up to 70 centimeters long. Dark green in color, they feature prominent veins. In some specimens, the center and edges of the leaf blades are even veined with purple.

Strelitzia reginae is easy to care for if you're growing it for its foliage. Getting it to bloom—with its bird-head-shaped flowers—requires a bit more effort, however. To get your Bird of paradise to bloom, you must overwinter it in a bright room with a temperature between 10 and 15 °C.

#2 Peperomia Raindrop (Peperomia polybotrya)

The Peperomia Raindrop looks exactly like the Chinese money plant – Photo by Yercaud Elango / Wikipedia

Sometimes a simple detail makes all the difference. It's a bit like pulling up the collar of your polo shirt to look like a rebel. The Raindrop Peperomia, on the other hand, has round leaves with tapered tips. As a result, they look more like raindrops than the leaves of the very popular Chinese coin plant (Pilea peperomioides).

Care for a beautiful Raindrop Peperomia doesn't require much effort. Plus, the plant makes it easy for you. When it's thirsty, it wilts. All you need to do is water it generously with rainwater so it regains its compact, upright shape.

#3 Spotted Pothos (Scindapsus pictus exotica)

This is not a pothos – Photo by Ong Jyh Seng /iNaturalist

Even though there are hundreds of varieties of Pothos (Epipremnum aureum), you might want something different. That's where Scindapsus pictus 'Exotica'—also known as spotted pothos—comes in. Like the pothos, it belongs to the Araceae family and boasts lush foliage. But it also has velvety-textured leaves.

Is your Satin Pothos the envy of others? If you're feeling generous, take cuttings to share with your friends. Simply cut a stem segment about ten centimeters long, just below a node. You can then plant it directly in potting soil for houseplants or let it root in water first.

#4 Callisia elegans (Callisia gentlei)

And this is no “misère”! Photo by Salicyna / Wikipedia

Easy to care for and propagate, the “misère” has become a favorite among beginner plant enthusiasts. If you want to stand out, try a Callisia gentlei. The plant features fleshy leaves and a sheathed stem that serves as a reminder of Tradescantia. The color of the leaf blades, however, offers something new: light or dark green, they're streaked with white.

The Callisia gentlei needs to be watered when the surface of its substrate is dry. Otherwise, it's grown just like a succulent! Plant it in succulent potting mix and feed it with cactus fertilizer during the growing season.

#5 Colocasia esculenta

Colocasia esculenta is sure to become your new favorite plant—Photo by Audrey Misner /Plantnet

It's hard for a novice to tell a Colocasia esculenta apart from an Alocasia. Both plants have thick, arrow-shaped leaves with often prominent veins and colors ranging from light green to black. The subtle difference lies in the petiole. In Alocasia, the leaf blade is fused along the edge. In Colocasia esculenta, the attachment is lower on the leaf.

The two species also have different care requirements. While the soil for Alocasia should be allowed to dry out slightly between waterings, Colocasia prefer to keep their soil consistently moist. In the summer, you can even let their feet sit in water!

#6 Ficus alii (Ficus maclellandii 'Alii')

Ficus alii is sometimes called the sword-leaf fig—Photo by Davi J. Stang/Wikipedia

The Ficus is to houseplants what the little black dress or white sneakers are to your wardrobe: an essential staple. However, being a classic doesn't mean you can't follow trends! Right now, ficus elastica is all the rage. If you want to think outside the box, treat yourself to a Ficus alii. Standing 1.5 meters tall with bright green, lance-shaped leaves, this shrub is every bit as impressive as its cousin.

Like other fig trees, ficus maclellandii 'Alii' hates change. It may lose a few leaves after arriving at your home and every time you perform repotting on it. To avoid stressing it too much, don't move it around and repot it only when the roots have filled the pot.

#7 Turtle Chain (Peperomia prostrata)

The delicate leaves of the turtle chain look translucent – Photo by Kelvin Nguyen /Plantnet

It's not just in the kitchen that revamped classics are all the rage. If you're looking for a hanging plant that's more original than the string of pearls (Curio rowleyanus) and cuter than string of Hearts (Ceropegia woodii), the turtle chain (Peperomia prostrata) should do the trick. Its round, succulent leaves are dotted with patterns identical to those that adorn the shells of these four-legged reptiles.

Peperomia prostrata stands out for more than just its appearance. Unlike the pearl necklace plant and the heart chain plant, it is not toxic to pets. You can add it to your collection even if you share your home (and your passion for plants) with your cat or dog.

#8 The Crocodile Fern (Microsorum musifolium)

Do you like reptile prints? Instead of a luxury handbag, treat yourself to a rare plant! Photo by Mokkie / Wikipedia

While enthusiasts grow boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata) or the bird's nest fern (Asplenium nidus), the crocodile fern (Microsorum musifolium) remains a rarity. Its bright green fronds, which appear to be covered in scales, have yet to have their moment in the spotlight.

Ferns are rarely found in our apartments, partly because they're rather difficult to care for. These plants thrive in humidity, and their foliage wilts indoors when the air is too dry. The Microsorum musifolium is no exception to this rule. Your Alligator fern will thrive in a humid room with a window, such as your kitchen or bathroom.

#9 The Velvet Plant (Gynura aurantiaca)

In orange, purple, and green, the velvet plant looks amazing – Photo by Didier Descouens / Wikipedia

With fewer than 100 monthly Google searches, gynura aurantiaca doesn't really attract much attention. However, here at Monstera, we're certain it will be the next internet sensation. We're convinced you'll be seeing its fuzzy purple foliage and orange flowers everywhere before long.

Gynura aurantiaca doesn't age well. The plant becomes spindly and loses its color after a few years. Be sure to propagate yours from cuttings in the spring and pinch back the stems regularly to encourage branching.

#10 Monstera dubia

Monstera dubia, or the two-dimensional plant – Photo by William Stephens / iNaturalist

Not only does Monstera dubia have two-toned, textured leaves, but its silhouette is unlike that of any other Araceae plant. While other plants climb their supports or let their vines hang down, this one clings to its support, like ivy on a facade or shingles on a roof.

To highlight the uniqueness of your Monstera dubia, choose its support carefully. You can grow it against a wall, on a wooden board, or around a post filled with sphagnum moss.

#11 The Zebra Plant (Aphelandra squarrosa)

Not all zebras are black and white – Photo by Wayne Ray – Wikipedia

It could almost pass for an Alocasia with its dark green leaves striped with white. That is, until it blooms. While elephant ear flowers consist of a spathe and a cream-colored spadix, the zebra plant displays a red, yellow, or orange spike-like inflorescence adorned with small, very fragrant flowers.

To encourage your Aphelandra squarrosa to bloom again, give it a rest period after flowering. Reduce watering, stop fertilizing, and keep your Zebra plant in the shade until new growth resumes.

#12 The Rose of Jericho (Selaginella lepidophylla)

The Rose of Jericho is related to ferns – Asurnipal / Wikipedia

The Rose of Jericho (Selaginella lepidophylla) may not be the rarest plant, but it's undoubtedly one of the most unique. In just a few hours, it transforms from a dried-out sponge into a lush green fern. In fact, it enters a dormant phase and shrinks when it's thirsty. When you water it or mist it, it regains its shape and color.

While the Rose of Jericho needs water to flourish, it can't tolerate too much. To be sure you don't kill it, you can grow it as an epiphyte and let it dry out completely before watering it. You can also plant it in an acidic, well-draining substrate and perform misting on it. This way, you'll be able to enjoy its foliage almost all year round.

#13 The Variegated Banana Tree (Musa variegata)

The variegated banana tree won't bear fruit, but it will earn you plenty of compliments – Photo by Mokkie / Wikipedia

Unless you live in a tropical Asian country, having a banana tree in your home or garden is already a bit of a novelty. If you want to take it a step further, opt for a Musa Variegata. Its green and white leaves are sure to surprise lovers of variegated plants.

The Musa Variegata is more delicate than the Japanese Banana (Musa basjoo). It cannot tolerate temperatures below 10 °C. Grow it indoors, in your living room or in a greenhouse. But make sure you have plenty of space! It can grow up to three meters tall!

#14 The Lady's Slipper Orchid (Paphiopedilum)

It takes a very small plant to bear a Venus slipper – Photo by David Eickhoff / Flickr

Orchids are rare and precious plants. It's easy to forget that when you see Phalaenopsis orchids decorating doctors' offices all the time. To rediscover just how exceptional these flowers are, it's best to turn to varieties like the Venus slipper. With its urn-shaped labellum and multicolored petals, the inflorescence is a true curiosity.

Venus's slippers thrive in a well-draining substrate, such as a mix of peat moss, bark, and perlite. This terrestrial orchid also prefers to have its roots confined. When repotting it, you can use the same pot.

#15 Euphorbia lactea cristata

The growth is caused by a tissue malformation – Photo by Mokkie / Wikipedia

Although it's relatively rare, Euphorbia lactea has taken over our Pinterest boards. You can't resist the beauty of this candle cactus (and we get it), but are you looking for something more unique? Euphorbia lactea cristata is the plant for you. The stem is topped with a fan-shaped crown of green, pink, and cream.

The colors of Euphorbia lactea cristata are most vibrant when the plant receives plenty of light. Place your succulent near a south- or west-facing window to ensure it gets enough sunlight.