In Singapore, money may well grow on trees. From buying a S$40,000 philodendron spiritus Sancti to a S$10,000 variegated monstera plant, Singaporeans are fast becoming plant collectors and traders. Over multiple lockdowns, travel-poor citizens are splashing out up to five figures for the crème de la crème of plants. Highly sought-after species are also being propagated, sold, and exchanged on marketplace Carousell, driving local plant inflation. “Collecting such rare plants might be a form of luxury to replace travelling for some people nowadays,” says Tan Wei Jie, founder of plant retailer Rabbit Island.

In the US, rare plants have also undergone a boom, contributing to a $15.6 billion horticulture market. But it’s not just about novelty or courting rarity. Plant sales surged in the first lockdown in Singapore, as people turned to greenery as a source of stress relief and comfort. The green impulse has also been seen in the US and the UK. From young people choosing plants over parties to obsessed foragers, people are seeking out slower-paced pastimes that are therapeutic. As more people embrace rewilding in an attempt to rekindle their relationship with nature, brands such as Sproutl and Selfridges that feed this green appetite are being met with approval.