10 Most Expensive Flowers In The World in 2024: Orchids, Roses & Priceless Plants

Flowers are the most preferred gifts for special occasions like a wedding, Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day. In fact, the phrase, “Say it with flowers” has become popular for this reason. Flowers are beautiful and easy on the purse. However, in this article we look at some of the rarest and most expensive flowers around the world.

10. Lisianthus ($10 – $35 per bundle)

The Lisianthus blooms annually and grows to about five centimeters in diameter. It has delicate, ruffled, wide petals and can be seen in a range of hues from blue violet, lavender, white, and pale purple. The flower is expensive because it survives only for a couple of weeks after it is cut from the stem. The shipped flowers are delicate and white in color, hence they are called “paper flowers”.

9. Lily of the Valley ($15 – $50 per bundle)

Lily of the Valley has a sweet scent but is also poisonous. It has a dainty and delicate appearance. This flower usually grows in late spring and lives only for a few weeks. Harvesters need to pick these flowers with great care to lengthen their lifespan.

8. Hydrangea ($6.5 per stem)

The Hydrangea is mostly white in color, but can also be seen in violet, light purple, pink, and blue colors. These flowers wilt easily, therefore it is advisable to buy them as close to the event as possible. They are widely used in many occasions, especially weddings. But it takes plenty of hard work to cultivate and harvest these beautiful flowers.

7. Gloriosa ($6 – $10 per flower)

The Gloriosa is native to Asia and South Africa. It is expensive as it is a rare and unique flower. The Gloriosa has showy petals with changing colors from center to tip. You can find these flowers in yellow-green, yellow, orange, and deep red colors.

6. Tulip Bulb (sold for $5,700 in the 17th century)

The simple and common tulip enjoyed a bubble in 17th century Holland, when it was sold for astronomical prices. The Dutch loved its shape and deep lush colors which were stronger than other flowers. Their price zoomed up to 10,000 guilders ($5,700) and the tulip has remained a sought after status symbol since then.

5. Saffron Crocus ($1200 – $1500 per pound)

Saffron is a popular spice that is used for coloring and high seasoning in many cuisines. The flower has purple color with a yellow stamen. But preparing spice from this flower is very difficult as about 80,000 flowers are used to extract just 500 grams of spice. However, the hard work is worth it as Saffron spice is in great demand.

4. Gold of Kinabalu Orchid ($6000 per piece)

This flower is extremely expensive because of its beauty and rarity. It has lovely green petals embellished with red dots, and is grown only in Malaysia’s Kinabalu National Park. It is difficult to cultivate this flower as it takes many years to appear. Its rarity and high price have earned this orchid the moniker “Gold of Kinabalu”.

3. Shenzhen Nongke Orchid ($200,000)

This orchid is a man-made flower and is named after the group of researchers who originally cultivated it. It took them eight long years to breed this flower and observe it. The high price is for its beauty, rarity, background and difficulty in cultivation. The orchid takes about five years to blossom and has a delicate taste.

2. Juliet Rose ($15.8 million)

Creator David Austin took 15 years to grow this lovely flower. He showcased it to the world at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2006. The rose is worth £3 million or about $15.8 million.

1. Kadupul Flower (Priceless)

This flower is priceless because it is rare and cannot be harvested. Kadupul is a cactus actually, and blossoms only at night. It emanates a soothing, lovely scent. Kadupul lives only for a few hours after it is picked, hence it is not possible to sell this exotic and unique flower.

How do environmental factors affect the growth and rarity of expensive flowers?

Environmental conditions play a significant role in determining the growth, rarity, and cost of some of the world’s most expensive flowers. Several factors contribute to the limited availability and high prices of these flowers, including:

• Climate Sensitivity: Many rare flowers, such as the Gold of Kinabalu Orchid and the Saffron Crocus, require very specific climate conditions to thrive. Variations in temperature, humidity, and seasonal changes can affect their growth and bloom cycles.
• Geographic Exclusivity: Flowers like the Kadupul and the Gold of Kinabalu Orchid grow only in particular regions, often in remote or protected areas. This geographic exclusivity adds to their rarity, making them difficult and costly to access.
• Soil Conditions: The unique composition of soil in certain regions is essential for some flowers to bloom. For example, the best Pinot Noir grapes for wine are grown in specific soil types, much like certain flowers that require specific nutrient balances in the soil to flourish.
• Pollination and Blooming Patterns: Flowers like the Kadupul bloom under very specific conditions, such as blooming only at night and wilting shortly afterward. This contributes to their elusiveness and drives up their value.

Understanding these environmental factors can help explain why some flowers are so rare and expensive, as their growth and availability are closely tied to natural and geographical conditions.

Key Insights

• Rarest and Most Expensive: The Kadupul Flower tops the list as the most priceless flower due to its inability to be harvested and its short lifespan.
• High Value: The Juliet Rose, developed by David Austin, holds a staggering value of $15.8 million, showcasing the intense dedication and time required for its cultivation.
• Historical Value: The Tulip Bulb, which sold for $5,700 in the 17th century, illustrates historical instances of high-value floriculture.
• Labor-Intensive Cultivation: Flowers like the Saffron Crocus require enormous effort to produce valuable derivatives, driving up their cost.
• Geographical Rarity: The Gold of Kinabalu Orchid, found only in Malaysia’s Kinabalu National Park, is a prime example of how geographical exclusivity can enhance a flower’s value.
• Man-Made Innovations: The Shenzhen Nongke Orchid demonstrates how scientific research and artificial cultivation can result in highly valuable and rare floral species.

FAQ

1. Why is the Kadupul Flower considered priceless? The Kadupul Flower is considered priceless because it is incredibly rare, blooms only at night, and wilts just a few hours after being picked, making it impossible to sell.
2. What makes the Juliet Rose so expensive? The Juliet Rose is expensive due to the 15 years of dedicated cultivation by creator David Austin, and its showcase value at the Chelsea Flower Show, resulting in its $15.8 million price tag.
3. Why was the Tulip Bulb so valuable in the 17th century? In 17th century Holland, the Tulip Bulb became a status symbol due to its unique shape and vibrant colors, leading to a speculative bubble where it sold for up to $5,700.
4. What factors contribute to the high cost of the Saffron Crocus? The high cost of the Saffron Crocus is due to the labor-intensive process of producing saffron spice, requiring 80,000 flowers to extract just 500 grams of the spice.
5. Where is the Gold of Kinabalu Orchid found, and why is it so expensive? The Gold of Kinabalu Orchid is found only in Malaysia’s Kinabalu National Park. Its high price is due to its rarity, beauty, and the difficulty in cultivating it, often taking years to bloom.
6. How was the Shenzhen Nongke Orchid developed? The Shenzhen Nongke Orchid is a man-made flower, developed by a group of researchers over eight years. Its high price is due to its rarity, beauty, and the extensive research and cultivation process involved.
7. What is the typical lifespan of the Lisianthus flower after being cut? The Lisianthus flower typically survives only for a couple of weeks after being cut from the stem, contributing to its delicate and high-value nature.
8. What makes the Hydrangea a popular choice despite its cost? Hydrangeas are popular for their large, beautiful blooms and variety of colors. However, they are costly due to their tendency to wilt quickly and the extensive care needed for cultivation and harvesting.
9. Why is the Gloriosa flower considered rare and unique? The Gloriosa flower is considered rare and unique due to its showy petals with changing colors and its native regions of Asia and South Africa, making it a sought-after and expensive flower.
10. How is the Lily of the Valley flower both attractive and dangerous? The Lily of the Valley flower is attractive due to its sweet scent and delicate appearance, but it is also dangerous because it is highly poisonous.

By Allan Jay

Allan Jay is FinancesOnline’s resident B2B expert with over a decade of experience in the SaaS space. He has worked with vendors primarily as a consultant in the UX analysis and design stages, lending to his reviews a strong user-centric angle. A management professional by training, he adds the business perspective to software development. He likes validating a product against workflows and business goals, two metrics, he believes, by which software is ultimately measured.