Collecting succulents has become a very popular hobby in recent years. Part of the reason for this popularity is that many of these plants are readily available and inexpensive.
People also love succulents because they are generally low maintenance plants that don’t require much attention to thrive. As long as they get plenty of sun and good drainage, they can take care of themselves.
Many succulents are easy to propagate and readily available at your local store or nursery, but some are hard to come by and these types can be quite expensive.
In this article, we list some of the rarest and most expensive succulents in the world. If you want to learn more about these extraordinary succulents, keep reading.
Conophytum subglobosum
Native to South Africa, this succulent is a small flowering plant that grows in clusters. She likes full sun and only needs watering when the soil in the pot is dry to the touch. Allowing the soil to dry properly between waterings will avoid the risk of overwatering the plant and root rot.
This plant is drought tolerant because it absorbs and stores water in its body when water becomes scarce.
Peyote
The peyote is a succulent plant native to Mexico. It is becoming rarer as it is sought after for its hallucinogenic properties. Because of this, it is classified as an illegal substance, and the only legal way to consume it is to belong to the Native American Church.
Peyote is so rare that getting one can cost $400 to $500. Those high prices are likely to continue to rise as succulents become more endangered.
Cacti like to stay in full sun. These succulents are very small and produce white and pink flowers when kept warm as these conditions encourage growth.
Astrophytum asterias
This succulent is also known as a sand dollar cactus because of its shape resembling a sand dollar. It is native to Texas and Mexico and is hardy in zones 8 and 9.
This is a slow-growing succulent that grows best under the care of the patient owner. It likes a lot of sunlight and can grow up to two centimeters tall. It produces yellow flowers in spring that grow from its thick stems.
A sand dollar cactus costs about $60 because it is rare even in its native land
Pachyphytum compactum
This is another succulent native to Mexico and Peru. It is hardy in zones 9 to 11 and can be a very active grower even in winter.
Also known as the little gem succulent, this small cactus is relatively easy to identify due to its unique pattern.
Pachyphytum compactum may not be as expensive as some of the other succulents on this list, but they’re still hard to come by, so you might end up paying a lot for one.
Tephrocactus articulatus
Native to Argentina, this succulent is a flowering plant that can survive in hardiness zones 8 to 10. It is also known as the paper cactus cactus.
This cactus is also small, with pink, yellow or white flowers. She likes direct sunlight and only needs watering when the soil in the pot is dry to the touch.
This is one of the most expensive succulents, costing a whopping $645 per plant.
Aloe haworthioides
This succulent is also known as the haworthia-leaved Aloe and is native to the island of Madagascar.
This is another small succulent that is hardy in zone 9.
You can keep this plant in the sun for extended periods of time, but you can also keep it indoors as it adapts to different light conditions.
This is a very exotic and rare succulent, which is why one plant costs about $1,200.
Gymnocalycium mihanovichii
Native to South America, this easy-care succulent is also known as the moon cactus.
It is hardy in zones 11 and 12 and likes bright sun, but will do well in partial shade.
Moon cactus doesn’t need a warm climate to thrive; in moderate temperatures, it will continue to grow.
Due to its rarity, this succulent costs about $995 per plant.
