This Pink Plant Is So Sought After, Its Cuttings Sell for $100

Apparently, it’s not only humans and pets that can attract a cult following on Instagram; plants can attract such a fanbase too. The pink princess philodendron, for instance, is so sought-after, its cuttings sell for over $100.

What is it exactly and why is it so expensive? Well, pink princess is beloved for its heart-shaped leaves and streaks of bright pink that resemble a crescent moon or splotches on an abstract artwork. It’s pricey because of its rarity, as it can only be grown from tissue culture in a lab, and only a few from each batch reveal their pink pigmentation.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that the pink princess has a cult following. Instagram has thousands of pics under the hashtag #pinkprincessphilodendron. On YouTube, there are unboxing videos where plantfluencers gush over their rare find. Etsy sellers, meanwhile, have produced fan merch like pins and shirts. 

And despite its ridiculous price tag, some stores have waiting list in the hundreds, sometimes even thousands. We can’t blame the plantfluencers, just look at that beauty!

Another factor that makes it appealing is that it is easy to take care of. The low maintenance plant only requires occasional pruning, kept under bright but indirect light, and watered once a week whenever the soil looks dry.

So where do you buy a pink princess? Your best bet would be to find a local seller or nursery. You can find potters on Etsy, but be warned, the plant could wither during shipping. Also be meticulous; there are look-a-likes being passed off as the real thing, like the pink congo, whose pink pigment fades within a year due to artificial coloring methods.

If you’re not too excited about spending up to $100 on a single plant but still want to add color to your garden, you can try alternatives like stromanthe, the mosaic plant, or rex begonia, to name a few.

What do you think about pink princess? Would you be adding it to your collection or not?