21 Rare Plants to Give the Gardener Who Has Everything

By Erin Marissa Russell

They say that gardeners are well-to-do to denounce for , because you ca n’t go awry giving a gardener a plant — but what about when you need a gift for the gardener who has everything ? Some hoi polloi have such huge plant life compendium that you just have intercourse anything you pick out will simply be a extra of a plant life they already have . That ’s where we come in . We ’ve curated this list of 24 rare plant that make first-class gifts for those gardener that are so hard to shop for because they ’ve already grown practically everything — or maybe you ’re the one who has tried growing all the common plants for gardeners in your area and is looking for something new . Whatever the case may be , you ’re certain to find something new to love in the options we present here .

Rare Annuals

Cupcake Blush Cosmos(Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Cupcake Blush’)

develop Zones : 2 through 11

The cupcake blush line of cosmos is a clean newly develop variety show , but gardener love it because it ’s just as prosperous to grow as the cosmos plants that have come before . Cupcake blush ’s fluffy , double - layered blooms look almost like a received cosmos blossom tire a frilly pinkish ballet skirt . They ’ve also been compared to a teacupful and saucer due to the physical body of the double bloom . These plants do n’t run to struggle with pests or disease , and they ’re outstanding for attracting beneficial pollinators like butterfly stroke to the garden . get word more at the Gardenia.net visibility forCupcake Blush cosmos .

Flower of an Hour(Hibiscus trionum)

grow Zones : Short - lived perennial in zone 10 and 11 ; produce as an yearbook in other zones

Flower of an hour is a low upkeep industrial plant that ’s gentle on the gardener . Its name come from the worldly quality of the blooms , which last only a mean solar day . The scant bloom period is worth it , though , as the flowers are showstopper , with a cream - colored background , deep red centers , and purple - tinged undersurface of the petals . Although the flowers only rest open for a sidereal day ( and wo n’t open at all if the weather is murky ) , the flush of an hour plant will keep blooming all time of year long in summertime and dip . watch more at the Missouri Botanical Garden profile forflower of an time of day .

Tassel Flower(Emilia coccinea/Emilia javanica)

Growing Zones : 8 through 11

Tassel flower is prized for its dramatic scarlet heyday , which resemble gathered pompoms or tassels . In a location for which they ’re particularly well suit , tassel flowers will self inseminate to riposte year after twelvemonth . The hardy slight flowers stand up to red-hot or humid weather without a struggle . They shape well at the front line of flower beds , in border , embed in container garden , and trimmed for shortened prime system . Learn more from the Plants For a Future visibility ontassel flower .

Rare Herbs

Cutting Celery(Apium graveolens)

Growing zona : 5 through 9

Few hoi polloi have heard of cutting celery , much less produce it in their own gardens . Other names for the plant include par - cel , foliage Apium graveolens dulce , and wild celery . The industrial plant depend a lot like Petroselinum crispum , but it taste much more like celery . However , unlike traditional celery , cut down cultivated celery is easy to grow without a lot of fuss . Learn more at the Plants For a Future visibility forcutting Apium graveolens dulce .

Eyeball Plant/Toothache Plant(Acmella oleracea/Spilanthes oleracea)

turn zona : 9 through 11

orb plant is a relative of the daisy and comes from South America ( most likely Brazil ) . It ’s been cultivate in garden for C due to its manipulation in seasoning solid food and as an herbal remediation . It ceaselessly produces attractive flushed and yellow heyday that seem like little pompoms and are edible . Because the plant is invasive in its tropical home , you may consider acquire it in a container to curtail its spread . Learn more from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Research & Extension ’s flora of the Week visibility oneyeball flora .

Tulsi Basil/Holy Basil(Ocimum tenuiflorum)

raise Zones : 10 through 12

Tulsi basil has been used historically both as a medicative herb and for spiritual purposes in Hindoo worship . It ’s often consumed as a tea , and its scent and flavor are something like a portmanteau of spicy cloves , licorice , bright lemons , and peppermint . Due to its extra spicy flush when used as a flavouring , it ’s sometimes bear on to as “ red-hot basil ” . discover more at the Plants For a Future visibility fortulsi basil .

Rare Houseplants

Alocasia azlanii

Alocasia plant life are considered to have some of the most unique foliage of all houseplants , and it ’s easygoing to see why . The bombastic leaves see like standard elephant spike , but they have a more outlined shape with pointy edges , and the contrast between the inscrutable green leaves and paler vein is striking . The azlanii motley is one of the most search - for alocasia on the market , producing morose and darker leaves as it mature until the foliage is a burgundy - purpleness so deep it almost looks black from a distance . memorise more at the Greenery Unlimited visibility forAlocasia azlanii .

Bat Flower(Tacca chantrieriorTacca integrifolia)

Growing Zones : Can winter out of doors in zones 9B through 11 ; other zone can originate as a houseplant in the winter

These outstanding blossom should be grown indoors as houseplant in the cool month but can be fetch outdoors to enjoy the temperateness in the summer . There ’s almost nothing as spectacular in the world of peak as a bat efflorescence . The unknown , otherworldly blooms make out in opprobrious with the Tacca chantrieri diversity or in white with Tacca integrifolia . Learn more from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture Research & Extension visibility onbat blossom .

Hanging Lobster Claw(Heliconia rostrata)

rise Zones : Can overwinter outdoors in zones 10 through 11 ; turn indoors as a houseplant in other zones .

The hang lobster claw industrial plant goes by many other figure as well , such as crab claw , false doll of paradise , and hang parrot ’s neb . All these gens hint at the unique form and coloration of the flora ’s blooms , which cascade in strip of stacked cannular prime that really do resemble the claw of a Cancer the Crab or lobster , tinged with dark-green at the lead and magenta on the remainder . get a line more at the Gardenia.net visibility forhanging lobster claw .

Rare Perennials

California Firecracker(Dichelostemma ida-maia)

Growing zone : 5 through 8

What make the California firecracker industrial plant so unparalleled are the cute minuscule blossoms it produces . It ’s easy to see where the plant life find its name , as the flowers really do look like bright cherry-red firecrackers tie in bundles , tipped with yellow wicks , that appear from May to July . The plant was originally a wildflower from California , but it ’s begun to catch on with gardeners in other region . Learn more from the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center ’s profile forCalifornia banger .

Checkered Lily(Fritillaria meleagris)

arise Zones : 4 through 8

The checkered lily is one of the most courtly plants you may add to your garden , with toll - mold flowers that are either parchment - color blooms dot with darker burgundy or cream - colour and pattern with pale green . It ’s a wild flower that comes from the UK and is just starting to become known in American gardens . Learn more in our articleHow to maturate Checkered Lily Flowers(Fritillaria Meleagris , Snake ’s Head Fritillary , Guinea Hen Flower ) .

Chinese Fairy Bells(Disporum longistylum)

Chinese sprite bells have a subtle beauty , but those who calculate close will be rewarded at the sight . The glossy spear - work foliage is attractive on its own , but look carefully in spring and summertime , and you ’re bound to regain the dangle bell - shaped blooms tucked in between the leg . flush add up in shades of purplish , brick red , or white . teach more from the Royal Horticultural Society profile forChinese fairy bells .

Doll’s Eyes/White Baneberry(Actaea pachypoda)

Growing Zones : 3 through 8

This unique industrial plant gets the nickname “ doll ’s eyes ” from the looking of the Chuck Berry that appear in summer . The berries are the size of pea plant and produce in clump , with each of their clean skins adorned with a individual , educatee - corresponding black dot . Gardeners bed the chick ’s eyes plant because it flourishes in shady spots where it can be sly to find something that grows well . Learn more at the Missouri Botanical Garden profile forwhite baneberry .

Rare Succulents and Cacti

Bunny Succulent(Monilaria moniliformis)

raise Zones : Can winter alfresco in Zone 10a through 11b ; grow as a houseplant in other zone

It ’s light to see where the bunny rabbit succulent got its name . From the flora ’s pedestal , little putting surface spheres sprout two “ ear ” each , which make the shoot seem more and more like bunny rabbit rabbits the longer they grow . Learn more from the World of Succulents profile forbunny succulent .

Fishbone Cactus(Epiphyllum anguliger)

grow Zones : Can overwinter out of doors in Zone 10 ; grow as a houseplant in other zones

Also know as zig zag cactus , orchid cactus , ric rac cactus , or St. Anthony ’s ric rac , this cactus has an eye - catching geometrical silhouette . The flat , ruffly leave really do look like botanic ric rac trim . Learn more from the Royal Horticultural Society ’s profile onfishbone cactus .

Lipstick Echeveria(Echeveria agavoides ‘Lipstick’)

originate zone : Can overwinter outdoors in zones 9 through 12 ; develop as a houseplant in other zona

Lipstick echeveria was named for the osculation of varnish - lustrous red that edge its leaf . It ’s an easy room to total gamey drama to any garden . lip rouge echeveria can be produce outdoors in zones 9 through 12 , while other nurseryman can choose between stay fresh it indoors as a houseplant year - daily round or develop it indoors when weather is cool , then moving it outside to enjoy the warm seasons . get word more from the Gardenia.net visibility onlipstick echeveria .

Living Stones/Pebble Plant(Lithops)

develop Zones : Can overwinter outdoors in zone 10 through 11 ; grow as a houseplant in other zones

At first glimpse , you would n’t imagine that lithops are actually growing plants , they resemble stones so closely . A collection of several in a corporation looks like a grouping of collected pebbles , with the plants having rude color pas seul that includes shades of brown , red , gray , and green , many with spots or streaks . get word more from the University of Wisconsin - Madison Division of Extension Master Gardener Program ’s visibility forliving Stone .

Sweetheart Hoya/Sweetheart Wax Plant/Hoya Hearts(Hoya kerrii)

produce zone : Can overwinter outdoors in Zones 11a through 11b ; get as a houseplant in other zones

The orotund , broad leaves of sweetheart hoya gift the plant its name due to their distinctive heart and soul shape . As the plant grows , it stretches out a stem that shoot more bosom - shaped leaves along its length on either side . teach more from the World of Succulents profile forsweetheart hoya .

Rare Trees and Shrubs

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus trees are prized for their menthol - similar scent and have a long history of medicinal use , but they ’re also quite attractive as ornamental . They produce wad of flower that , like dandelions , have stamen that fence the bud instead of petal , making the blooms look like little pyrotechnic . Better yet , eucalypt is a natural insect repellant , so a eucalyptus tree diagram will do its part to keep your garden pestilence - detached . Learn more in our articleHow to Grow Eucalyptus Trees .

Goldfinger/Shrubby Cinquefoil(Potentilla fruticosa ‘Goldfinger’)

Growing Zones :

Shrubby cinquefoil will stick out growing in fond nuance , but it produces more heyday when grown in full sun . The mound - forge shrubs grow to between two and four ft tall and have a recollective summer blooming period during which they put out fate of yellow flowers , each upt type O an inch and a half across . Learn more at the Missouri Botanical Garden visibility forgoldfinger .

Harlequin Glorybower(Clerodendrum trichotomum)

Growing Zones : 7 through 10

The harlequin glorybower is a deciduous bush that stretch out to reach peak of up to 20 feet tall and can spread just as broad . Although the leaf of the works is nothing special , harlequin glorybower is known for the colorful show of its white tube - regulate blossoms that metamorphose as summer wears on to a vibrant shade of red before at last producing puritanic yield in the fall . Learn more at the Missouri Botanical Garden visibility forharlequin glorybower .

There are rarer plants than these on the market , but many of them are prohibitively expensive . Somevariegated ceriman plantscan betray for thousand of dollars each , while cutting may cost up to $ 200 . Variegated monsteras have become so valuable that one was even stolen from the Christchurch Botanic Gardens in New Zealand in September of 2020 . The plants we ’ve listed here are n’t quite that rarefied , but they are n’t that expensive , either — realize them great talent for the gardener on your inclination who already has one of everything , even if that nurseryman is you .

rare plants for gardeners