The Common, The Uncommon, and The Elusive
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If you’ve been browsing the site, you’ve probably noticed I split everything into three categories:
The Common. The Uncommon. The Elusive.
I get asked a fair bit what actually separates them, so I thought I’d break it down properly.
There’s no strict rulebook behind it. It’s mostly how I see things as a collector, but this should give you a pretty good idea.
This one’s pretty straightforward.
If you can walk into somewhere like Bunnings or a big garden centre and find it easily, it’s going into The Common.
These are the plants most people start with. They’re generally easier to care for, quicker growing, and a lot more forgiving if you make mistakes (which everyone does).
And honestly, there’s nothing wrong with that. A solid collection usually starts here.
This is where things start to get a bit more interesting.
If I have to go looking for a plant, like Googling it and only finding a handful of sellers, that’s usually where I’d call it "The Uncommon".
It can also include plants that used to be everywhere but have dropped off a bit. Something like a Philodendron Splendid is a good example, not impossible to find, but definitely not as common as it once was.
These plants tend to have a bit more character, whether that’s leaf shape, texture, or just something a little different.
This is the fun category.
The Elusive is where all the weird, rare, hard-to-find stuff ends up. The plants that you don’t really see around, or only a few people are growing and selling.
Sometimes it’s because they’re genuinely rare, sometimes it’s just because they’re not widely circulated yet.
These are the ones collectors usually chase.
Real Talk - It’s Not an Exact Science
I’ll be honest… there’s no cheat sheet.
Sometimes I’ll categorise something purely off gut feeling. Being in this space every day, you get a sense of what feels common vs uncommon vs rare.
And yeah, I’ll probably miscategorise things from time to time... it happens.
But the goal isn’t perfection, it’s to make things easier for you to understand what you’re looking at.
A Quick Note on Growing Them
No matter which category you’re looking at, one thing stays the same:
You can grow any of these plants.
Some might be a bit more particular than others, but it really just comes down to learning what they need and setting them up properly.
You’re going to make mistakes. Everyone does.
Plants will die. You’ll overwater something. You’ll underwater something else.
That’s all part of it.
Every mistake just makes you better for the next one.
So Where Should You Start?
If you’re new, The Common is always a safe place to begin.
If you’ve got a bit of confidence and want something a bit different, step into The Uncommon.
And if you’re ready to chase something special… that’s where The Elusive comes in.
At the end of the day, it’s all just part of building your collection and figuring out what you enjoy most.
And that’s the best part of it.