Rare and Variegated Houseplants
Variegated Monstera 'Albo', 'Thai Constellation', Philodendron 'Pink Princess' and other sought-after variegated cultivars: what NC State Extension says about each, why variegation can revert, and how to buy carefully.
Once you’ve kept a few easy plants alive, it’s natural to want something special. Much of what makes a houseplant sought-after is variegation - leaves streaked or patched with white, cream, pink or yellow. NC State Extension’s Gardener Plant Toolbox describes Monstera ‘Albo Variegata’, for example, as striking, rare and expensive. This guide covers six variegated or unusual houseplants, what the sources say about each, and how to buy carefully.
Why variegation is special - and unstable
The Royal Horticultural Society explains that variegated plants are usually selected from a sport, or mutation, of a pure green plant, and are then propagated by cuttings, grafting or division to keep their features. These mutations are not always stable, and the plant can “revert” to pure green shoots. Because green shoots contain more chlorophyll, they are more vigorous and can eventually take over the plant. The RHS adds that very few variegated plants can be raised from seed.
NC State notes for Monstera that variegated cultivars need more sunlight than darker green ones.
At a glance
| Plant | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| Monstera ‘Albo Variegata’ | Striking variegated leaves; rare and expensive (NC State) |
| Monstera ‘Thai Constellation’ | A listed Monstera cultivar (NC State) |
| Philodendron ‘Pink Princess’ | Dark purplish-green leaves with pink variegation (NC State) |
| Variegated syngonium | Green or variegated leaves, silvery or pink (NC State) |
| Hoya carnosa cultivars | ’Krimson Queen’, ‘Krimson Princess’, ‘Variegata’, ‘Krinkle Kurl’ (NC State) |
| String of turtles (Peperomia prostrata) | Slow-growing, trailing; non-toxic to cats and dogs (NC State) |
The variegated Monsteras
Monstera ‘Albo Variegata’
NC State lists ‘Albo Variegata’ among the cultivars of Monstera deliciosa and calls it a striking plant with variegated leaves, rare and expensive. For the species, it suggests average warmth of 60-85°F, moderate brightness but no direct sun, and high humidity, with variegated cultivars needing more sun than green ones. Water thoroughly, then let the top quarter of the mix dry.
Monstera ‘Thai Constellation’
NC State also lists ‘Thai Constellation’ among Monstera cultivars; care follows the species above, with the extra light that variegated forms need.
The pink philodendron
Philodendron ‘Pink Princess’
NC State describes ‘Pink Princess’, a cultivar of Philodendron erubescens, as having an upright, vining habit and heart-shaped, dark purplish-green leaves with pink variegation. The species prefers warmth, high humidity, moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter, and partial shade; indoors it can climb a moss pole or trellis. NC State notes it has low-severity poisonous characteristics.
The easier collector plants
Variegated syngonium
NC State says the American evergreen (Syngonium podophyllum, our arrowhead plant) is valued indoors for low-maintenance, green or variegated leaves; young leaves may carry silvery or pink variegation, and the leaves change shape as the plant matures.
Hoya cultivars
NC State lists Hoya carnosa cultivars including ‘Krimson Queen’ (or ‘Tricolor’), ‘Krimson Princess’, ‘Variegata’ and ‘Compacta’ or ‘Krinkle Kurl’. It suggests bright indirect light year-round, a loose, fast-draining mix high in organic matter (hoya is an epiphyte), and letting the mix dry between waterings. NC State rates its growth as rapid; our hoya profile covers care.
String of turtles
NC State tags string of turtles (Peperomia prostrata) as a slow-growing, trailing, low-maintenance houseplant for hanging baskets, and as non-toxic to cats and dogs.
How to buy carefully
- Buy from a reputable seller. The RHS advises buying from a reputable garden centre, where plants are generally stored and cared for properly, and choosing plants with healthy leaves and no discolouration; avoid plants wilting in wet compost, which can mean root damage or disease.
- Check the variegation. Because variegated plants can revert, look for stable variegation on the plant you are buying, and ask for recent photos of the actual plant when buying online.
- Know what a cutting is. The University of Illinois Extension says a stem cutting should have at least two nodes; a single leaf without a node will not grow into a new stem.
- Check your country’s plant import rules before ordering a plant from abroad.
- Isolate new arrivals. The University of California’s IPM program suggests checking new plants weekly for pests at first and isolating any plant with a problem.
Caring for variegation
The RHS advises pruning out reverted, pure green shoots completely, or cutting back into wood with variegated leaves, as soon as they appear. Give variegated forms the extra light they need (NC State, for Monstera).
Frequently asked questions
Why are some houseplants so expensive?
NC State describes Monstera ‘Albo Variegata’ as rare and expensive. Variegated forms are kept going by cuttings, grafting or division rather than seed (RHS), which limits how quickly they can be multiplied.
Will a variegated plant lose its variegation?
It can. The RHS explains that variegation comes from an unstable mutation and the plant may revert to pure green shoots, which are more vigorous; prune them out.
Which of these is easiest?
NC State calls string of turtles low-maintenance, and the arrowhead plant low-maintenance and desired indoors.
Are rare plants a good investment?
We’d treat them as a hobby rather than an investment: buy a plant because you want to grow it.
Sources
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Monstera deliciosa, Philodendron erubescens, Syngonium podophyllum, Hoya carnosa, Peperomia prostrata. Read 28 October 2026.
- Royal Horticultural Society, Reversion in plants and How to grow houseplants. Read 28 October 2026.
- University of Illinois Extension, Houseplants: cuttings. Read 28 October 2026.
- University of California Statewide IPM Program, Houseplant Problems. Read 28 October 2026.
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