Rare Variegated Plant Show & Sale Info

Editor's note: Mike D'Andrea has been a variegated plant hobbiest for more than 20 years. He has discovered many sports ranging from Monstera, Alocasia, Philodendron and cultivated them into the hobby. We're excited to sit down with Mike and learn more about the US' first ever plant show focused on Rare & Variegated plants.

1. Mike, always great to speak with you. Personally, I am very excited to see this happen. Can you tell us what was your inpsiration in doing this?

It starts from actually going to shows and when you go to a show, hoping to stumble across something rare and unique, and you come away with thinking this is really special. A lot of times that's a variegated plants. Overtime people seek it out and then are interested in growing it themselves.

The Rare Variegated Plant Show & Sale will also help to share with hobbiest, while there are many wonderful plants out there, no matter the species, there's always potential for a variegated version. Variegated palms, bananas, snake plants, Anthuriums, there's no limit to what might become a variegated plant. It could happen to any plant, Philodendron Spiritus Sancti as a great example. Burle Marx Flame is another good example, which popped up recently. Some who have never seen them before live and in person, might have interest in this.

This type of show is already done in other countries, notably the King Show in Thailand which is celebrated overseas.

2. Love how this will help introduce people to something new and special. Knowing this is likely the first ever Rare & Variegated plant show in the US, what are your goals?

Give variegated plants a stage and spotlight. Celebrate this plant group. Give an opportunity to see them, collect them and not having to look too hard for a specific rare & variegated plant that people might be looking for.

I also want to show the little subtlties and the distinctions between all of them, albo versus mint, versus aurea, etc. We'll also bring Palms to stage that might truly be a once in a life time viewing experience because they're so difficult to propagate.

3. I'm excited to see the Monstera Sports exhibit, what are a few of your personal favorites that’ll be on display?

My personal favorite, I'm calling it Monstera XYZ because I haven't determined a real name for it yet. I grew it from seed as a seed sport, and now it's 8 feet tall.

Another unique seed sport, I call the Masterpiece is making it's big debut. The variegation looks like a renaissance era painting. Thick oil painting looking variegation. It slightly mimics the Ocean Mint but has it's own qualities making it distinct. Tricon, or officially known as Tres Leches will also be on display. Some may remember the famous Miracle Thai Constellation last summer which had 3 colors, it came from one area of Thailand. This one also has 3 colors and comes from another area. The best way to describe it is Aurea large form meets Thai Con splatter pattern. Collector standards like White Monster, Albo large form, Creme Brulee & Compactica will be on site and side by side to other popular mint type of Monstera deliciosa large forms.

Preview of the Monstera deliciosa large form "Masterpiece"

3. Sounds like there’s also going to be a great presence of some amazing rare non-Monstera’s out there. Any sneak peak at what the crowd might be most interested in seeing?

Absolutely. The introduction of Variegated Philodendron joepii, Variegated Philodendron atabopoese, Variegated Philodendron billietiae hybrid and some extremely rare Variegated Palms, highlighted by a collection Variegated Japanese Rhaphis Palms, straight from japan, categorized and officially named.

Preview of the Variegated Philodendron atabopoese

4. Bonus to all this, we’re excited to see what you’ll have on display for sale. Who are some of the sellers there and what might be available?

The whole theme is variety and variegation, however there will be a little something for everyone ranging from low end to high end prices. I'll have some plants on sale. Particularly sports. Plant Madness will be bringing some larger plants, different varieties of adansonii, tetrasperma on totems, albos including a 6' albo.

Urban Leaf Shop & 45th Parallel Tropicals will have some great plants on displays covering bases from Anthuriums to Monstera and all rare plants. Next World Exotics will also have their mixed varieties.

5. Give us the deets, how can people attend?

• When: Sunday, September 25 12 PM EST - 8 PM EST
• Location: Ampitheater at Arts Park at Young's Circle, Hollywood Florida
• Parking: City meter parking surrounding the park
• Food: Public Park has vending machines, people can bring food & drinks, no plastic or styrofoam in the park. There are restaurants nearby including one owned by the famous South Florida plant collector, Sushi Song.
• Admission is free & open to the public

Updates can be found on Mike's instagram, @mda1635.