Emma Goldman once said, “I’d rather have roses on my table than diamonds on my neck.” Of course, she was probably commenting on the intangible beauty of the flower but why fret over flora and jewellery when you can have both. Some of the world’s most expensive flowers are not only the epitome of nature’s beauty but also a testament to mankind’s decadence. From bouquets studded by the most precious of the earth’s gems, to the rarest orchids in the world, these blossoms are so valued their prices are thorns that prick thin wallets and bank accounts. If you’re serious about spending your riches on the most expensive flowers in the planet, then take a look and smell the scent of opulence.
Most Expensive Orchid
Orchids are the largest flowering plants in the world and as such command stiff value. The most expensive orchid fetched a jaw-dropping $200,000 it must have kept even the Venus flytrap mum. The $200,000 orchid was a product of years of research by Chinese scientists on agricultural science. Because of the painstaking years spent cultivating the expensive flower, its rarity became the primary factor for its value. It was sold to an anonymous buyer for 1.68 million yuan and features a unique look, shape and delicate fragrance. Smells like crisp money, I suppose.
Runner-up for the most expensive orchid is the Gold of Kinabulu which can only be found in a fenced area of the Kinabulu National Park in Malaysia. As one of the world’s endangered species of flowering plants, the Gold of Kinabula’s single stem can be worth up to $5,000. To catch a glimpse of this expensive golden flora, visit during the April-May peak season.
Most Expensive Flower in the World
History is also full of expensive items. One of them includes the Semper Augustus, the most valuable of all species of flora, and the center of Tulip Mania during the Dutch Golden Age. Back in the 17th century, the tulip fetched a maximum market price of 10,000 guilders which at the time was enough to purchase a grand home in the city of Amsterdam. In today’s currency however, the extraordinary flower famed for its rarity and beauty would set one back an astounding $133,000 or more, or roughly about $900 to $1000 adjusted to inflation. So rare is the flower only two Semper Augustus bulbs are thought to have existed.
Most Expensive Wedding Bouquet
With this wedding bouquet, you would think twice of actually throwing it to a bunch of screaming bridesmaids. At $125,000 this lavish flora known as Thien Hoa Bach Ngoc or Thousands of Flowers, Hundreds of Gemstones on display at the Ruby Plaza in Vietnam is the most expensive bouquet in the planet. The most expensive bouquet is made of white roses, white lilies, white orchids, moonflowers and 100 year old ficus. Studded with 90 gemstones, nine diamonds and one star-shaped ruby, this pricey combination of flowers is the perfect bouquet to hold as you walk down your aisle, in of course, one of the world’s most lavish wedding ceremonies.
The Priceless Flower
Although some blossoms can fetch thousands and thousands of dollars, a few are actually priceless. The Kadupul Flower in Sri Lanka is so rare even locals have a hard time getting a glimpse of it. For those lucky and rich enough to shell out for a guided night tour, the legendary flower awes visitors by blooming only at midnight and dying just before dawn. The extremely short lifespan of the Kadupul makes any monetary value impossible to calculate. For its splendid fragrance, ephemeral beauty and almost mythical status, the Kadupul Flower is the height of incomparable floral elegance.