Birthday
HydrangeasMost flowers are affordable, but some plants cost thousands of dollars, and a few cannot be bought at all. Here are the world's most expensive and rare flowers: what makes them so valuable and the stories behind them. Prices come from public sources and auctions; they are approximate and change over time.
Luxurious bouquets at affordable prices are in our peony-shaped roses and imported roses sections.
In brief
What makes a flower expensive
- Rarity — the plant grows wild in only a few places or survives in a handful of specimens.
- Long breeding — developing a new variety can take decades.
- Difficult cultivation — slow growth, special conditions and a long wait for flowers.
- Protection — trade in many wild orchids is restricted by the international CITES convention.
Kadupul, the flower you cannot buy
The Dutchman's pipe cactus (Epiphyllum oxypetalum), called kadupul in Sri Lanka, opens fragrant white flowers at night that wilt by morning. A picked flower won't last until it is sold, so it is called "priceless". The plant itself is undemanding and is grown as a houseplant.
The Juliet rose
According to the company, British rose breeder David Austin worked on the apricot, peony-like Juliet rose for about 15 years, and developing it cost several million pounds. The variety was first shown in 2006 at the Chelsea Flower Show and is often called the most expensive rose in history. Similar peony-shaped roses are now available in ordinary flower shops.
Record-breaking orchids
- Shenzhen Nongke — a hybrid orchid developed by Chinese scientists. In 2005 one plant was reportedly sold at auction for about 1.68 million yuan.
- Gold of Kinabalu (Paphiopedilum rothschildianum) — a rare orchid from Borneo that flowers only many years after planting. Wild plants are protected and trade in them is restricted.
The Middlemist camellia
The red camellia was brought from China to England by the nurseryman John Middlemist in the early 19th century. It later disappeared in its homeland, and today only two specimens are widely known, in the UK and in New Zealand. It has no price: it simply cannot be bought.
Semper Augustus and tulip mania
In the 1630s bulbs of streaked tulips sold for enormous sums in the Netherlands, and Semper Augustus was the most coveted variety. According to contemporary accounts its price was compared to that of a house, although historians consider some of these stories exaggerated. The streaked colouring, as was discovered later, was caused by a virus.
Saffron, the most expensive spice
Saffron is the dried stigmas of the saffron crocus. They are picked by hand, and about 150,000 flowers are needed for one kilogram of spice, which is why saffron is considered the most expensive spice in the world.
FAQ
What is the most expensive flower in the world?
The Juliet rose is most often named for its breeding cost and the Shenzhen Nongke orchid for its auction price, while kadupul and the Middlemist camellia are called "priceless" because they cannot be bought.
Can I buy a Juliet rose?
Yes, plants and cut stems of this variety are sold, and they cost far less than the breeding did.
Why is saffron so expensive?
The stigmas are picked by hand, and about 150,000 flowers are needed for 1 kg of spice.
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Author: Maria Svitlovir
Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.
