Rare Houseplant Expert Shares 5 Extraordinary, Easy-Care Varieties To Elevate Your Collection

In recent years, the ability to source plants online has opened up a new world of growing possibilities for indoor gardeners, offering a wider choice than ever before. Many rare and sought-after varieties that were previously the preserve of experts are now accessible options – and they aren’t necessarily more difficult to look after than more familiar houseplants.

Our habits and tastes have changed too. While in the past many growers enjoyed the challenge of tending to high-maintenance houseplants, today most don’t want demanding varieties that struggle with a long list of problems. “As more people go back to working in an office and travelling more, we’re already starting to see renewed interest in plants that are tolerant of a little neglect: plants like hoya, snake plant, aglaonema, for example, are bubbling up,” says Justin Hancock, a horticulturist at Costa Farms, which searches the globe for new and extraordinary plants that are suitable for growing in the home environment.

Justin also predicts that plants with fenestrated foliage will soar in popularity over the next year. “Particularly monstera and Epipremnum pinnatum varieties (like E. pinnatum Albo). And variegation is hotter than ever – plant parents constantly ask us about new variegated houseplants. While, vining houseplants that climb and trail, such as pothos, scindapsus, monstera, and philodendron, continue to be in demand.”

Here, Justin reveals his top five sought-after houseplants for 2025. And, if you're ready to start adding to your collection, you can browse rare and unusual houseplants in the Gardening Know How Shop.

Justin Hancock

Justin has worked at Costa Farms for over a decade, has a degree in horticultural science, and has many years of experience in garden publishing. He closely monitors plant trends, to shape the brand's product offering, and offers advice to growers through producing expert horticultural content.

1. Cobra Monstera

“The cobra monstera (Monstera standleyana "Albo-Variegata") has been steadily gaining traction in recent months,” says Justin. “It checks a lot of boxes: it’s a monstera, it’s variegated, and it’s unusual in that the leaves don’t get huge and fenestrate – so it’s bucking that trend."

As a climbing houseplant, it can be grown on a pole or up a trellis, or can be allowed to trail down from a hanging basket or creep across a tabletop. Cobra monstera, available in the Gardening Know How Shop, can reach over 6 feet in the right growing conditions.

”It’s pretty easy growing and each leaf is different, so it’s a joy to watch grow,” adds Justin. “It’s also a pretty quick grower, so it doesn’t require the patience that some of the rarer variegated monstera varieties need.”

2. Raven ZZ

“Raven ZZ (Zamioculcas zamiifolia "Dowon") was hugely trendy when it first came to North America in 2019 and I predict we’re going to see a resurgence of sorts in 2025 as a new group of plant parents discovers just how easy-care it is and i’s fabulous looks,” says Justin.

Available in the Gardening Know How Shop, Raven ZZ is a rare variety of ZZ plant that initially produces lime green growth, which evolves into a stunning deep purple-black.

“The goth gardening trend has been prevalent for the last few years and I don’t see any signs of that changing – so a plant with black leaves that can survive if you only water it once a month is the perfect entry point into a new houseplant collection,” says Justin.

3. Painted Lady Philodendron

Painted Lady philodendron, available in the Gardening Know How Shop, is a rare, sought-after houseplant that’s gaining attention for its eye-catching foliage.

“This climbing houseplant offers variegated, bright-golden yellow leaves with added color from its pink stems and petioles,” says Justin. “With that bold color, you might think it’s exotic and hard to grow, but it’s surprisingly tolerant of forgotten waterings. (And if you grow it in a self-watering system, you don’t need to worry about watering!)”

4. Polka Dot Begonia

“The Polka Dot begonia (Begonia maculata) is an unusual plant that’s just so architecturally interesting,” says Justin. “It features wing-shaped leaves (hence one of its other common names, Angelwing begonia) that are medium green and irregularly dotted with silver spots on top. Beneath, they’re an intriguing rusty-red color.”

Available in the Gardening Know How Shop, the Polka Dot begonia has an upright growth habit, so if you give it a good spot and let it grow, it can mature into an eye-catching 4-foot-tall statement plant. It needs bright light and watering only when the potting mix starts to dry out.

If you look after this plant properly, it produces stunning exotic flowers.

5. Albo Pothos

“Albo pothos (Epipremnum pinnatum "Albo-Variegata") is going to continue to gain a lot more attention next year thanks to its incredibly easy-growing nature, white-variegated leaves, and the opportunity to watch the plant fenestrate if you grow it up vertically,” says Justin.

Available in the Gardening Know How Shop, Albo pothos thrives in bright, indirect light and has lower-than-average watering needs, but prefers above-average humidity.

“This plant it’s super versatile – like old-school golden pothos, you can let it cascade from a shelf or basket or grow along a mantle or tabletop,” adds Justin.

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This article features products available from third party vendors on the Gardening Know How Shop.