A $649 plant at Bunnings? You’ve got to be kidding!
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You might expect to pay a little extra for a rare plant—but one shopper was left speechless by a price tag he spotted during a casual visit to a popular hardware store.
What started as a routine browse turned into a jaw-dropping discovery that’s had garden lovers talking.
And while the plant was impressive, it’s the number on the label that really stole the spotlight.
Micka had been on a routine trip to his local Bunnings store on the NSW Central Coast—just a quick visit to Tuggerah to hunt for a few new additions to his already thriving plant collection.
As a devoted gardening enthusiast and business owner, he knew the aisles like the back of his hand. But on this visit, something stopped him in his tracks.
Among the greenery, one particular plant caught his eye: a large espalier camellia, carefully trained to grow across a trellis. It wasn’t just the look of it that stood out—but the price.
The tag read $649.
‘That’s the most expensive plant I’ve ever seen,’ he said, still stunned by the discovery.
Micka wasn’t just any casual shopper. For the past five years, he had poured his time and energy into the world of plants. His passion had grown from a personal hobby into a thriving business, and he had built a loyal community of nearly 180,000 followers online—many of whom shared his obsession with rare house plants and the care products they require.
‘I go to Bunnings pretty regularly,’ he said. ‘I was looking for a backgroun[for my videos] and thought [the espalier camellia's] looked sick. But it was $600 and I thought “I can't afford that”.’
Source: TikTok/rootsnleaves.official
Though the camellia had made an impression, it wasn’t the first high-ticket plant he had seen at the hardware chain.
He recalled spotting Thai constellation monsteras in the past—an in-demand, variegated version of the Monstera deliciosa. Even those hadn’t come close to this price tag.
Still, the sight of the camellia lingered in his mind. ‘I’ve never seen anything like that before in Bunnings,’ he said, admitting he couldn’t stop thinking about it.
When Micka shared his discovery online, it didn’t take long for others to chime in with explanations. The steep price, many pointed out, wasn’t just for the plant itself—it was for the years of skilled work behind it.
Espalier is an artful technique that involves pruning and training plants to grow flat against a wall or trellis. Camellias, with their dense evergreen leaves and colourful blooms, are often chosen for this method.
What most people don’t see is the time and care it takes to produce such a plant. Espalier camellias can take up to eight years to reach that form. During that time, hundreds of clips are used to guide their growth.
They’re pruned up to four times a year, fertilised regularly, and re-potted at least three times before they’re even put on display. By the time they reach the shop floor, they’re heavy, well-formed, and costly to transport.
For those not ready to part with hundreds of dollars, Bunnings still offers smaller camellias at a more accessible price. A 70mm variety could be found for just $4.93—showing just how wide the price range can be depending on the size, shape, and preparation of the plant.
But for Micka, the camellia was more than just a potential purchase—it was a reflection of the lifestyle he had built around gardening.
A single dad, he confessed that his love for plants wasn’t a casual pastime. ‘It’s my whole life,’ he said.
That passion came with a hefty monthly spend—around $1,000, by his estimate. ‘It’s not just on plants, but plant stuff,’ he explained. ‘Every time you go into Bunnings, you walk out with stuff you don’t go there for. It’s an outing for me. I get the sausage sizzle and go for a wander.’
The espalier camellia may not have come home with him that day—but it certainly left an impression, and for a plant lover like Micka, sometimes that’s more than enough to keep coming back.
We’ve covered plenty of fascinating Bunnings plant stories before—from caged “rare” monsteras to clever budget gardening hacks and recycling programs—and it’s clear many Aussies of all ages find joy (and sometimes surprise) in the nursery aisles.
If you’re a senior Australian who enjoys a good yarn about gardening finds and green-thumb pride, you’ll love revisiting these tales.
Take a look at these related stories that sparked lively conversation among our readers:
For many, a trip to the garden centre is more than a shopping errand—it’s a moment of peace, a chance to dream, and sometimes, a surprise worth remembering.
Have you ever come across a price tag that made you do a double take? Let us know in the comments.
What started as a routine browse turned into a jaw-dropping discovery that’s had garden lovers talking.
And while the plant was impressive, it’s the number on the label that really stole the spotlight.
Micka had been on a routine trip to his local Bunnings store on the NSW Central Coast—just a quick visit to Tuggerah to hunt for a few new additions to his already thriving plant collection.
As a devoted gardening enthusiast and business owner, he knew the aisles like the back of his hand. But on this visit, something stopped him in his tracks.
Among the greenery, one particular plant caught his eye: a large espalier camellia, carefully trained to grow across a trellis. It wasn’t just the look of it that stood out—but the price.
Shopper stunned by $649 camellia at Bunnings. Image source: TikTok/rootsnleaves.official
The tag read $649.
‘That’s the most expensive plant I’ve ever seen,’ he said, still stunned by the discovery.
Micka wasn’t just any casual shopper. For the past five years, he had poured his time and energy into the world of plants. His passion had grown from a personal hobby into a thriving business, and he had built a loyal community of nearly 180,000 followers online—many of whom shared his obsession with rare house plants and the care products they require.
‘I go to Bunnings pretty regularly,’ he said. ‘I was looking for a backgroun[for my videos] and thought [the espalier camellia's] looked sick. But it was $600 and I thought “I can't afford that”.’
Source: TikTok/rootsnleaves.official
Though the camellia had made an impression, it wasn’t the first high-ticket plant he had seen at the hardware chain.
He recalled spotting Thai constellation monsteras in the past—an in-demand, variegated version of the Monstera deliciosa. Even those hadn’t come close to this price tag.
Still, the sight of the camellia lingered in his mind. ‘I’ve never seen anything like that before in Bunnings,’ he said, admitting he couldn’t stop thinking about it.
When Micka shared his discovery online, it didn’t take long for others to chime in with explanations. The steep price, many pointed out, wasn’t just for the plant itself—it was for the years of skilled work behind it.
Espalier is an artful technique that involves pruning and training plants to grow flat against a wall or trellis. Camellias, with their dense evergreen leaves and colourful blooms, are often chosen for this method.
What most people don’t see is the time and care it takes to produce such a plant. Espalier camellias can take up to eight years to reach that form. During that time, hundreds of clips are used to guide their growth.
They’re pruned up to four times a year, fertilised regularly, and re-potted at least three times before they’re even put on display. By the time they reach the shop floor, they’re heavy, well-formed, and costly to transport.
For those not ready to part with hundreds of dollars, Bunnings still offers smaller camellias at a more accessible price. A 70mm variety could be found for just $4.93—showing just how wide the price range can be depending on the size, shape, and preparation of the plant.
But for Micka, the camellia was more than just a potential purchase—it was a reflection of the lifestyle he had built around gardening.
A single dad, he confessed that his love for plants wasn’t a casual pastime. ‘It’s my whole life,’ he said.
That passion came with a hefty monthly spend—around $1,000, by his estimate. ‘It’s not just on plants, but plant stuff,’ he explained. ‘Every time you go into Bunnings, you walk out with stuff you don’t go there for. It’s an outing for me. I get the sausage sizzle and go for a wander.’
The espalier camellia may not have come home with him that day—but it certainly left an impression, and for a plant lover like Micka, sometimes that’s more than enough to keep coming back.
We’ve covered plenty of fascinating Bunnings plant stories before—from caged “rare” monsteras to clever budget gardening hacks and recycling programs—and it’s clear many Aussies of all ages find joy (and sometimes surprise) in the nursery aisles.
If you’re a senior Australian who enjoys a good yarn about gardening finds and green-thumb pride, you’ll love revisiting these tales.
Take a look at these related stories that sparked lively conversation among our readers:
- Aussies baffled by caged ‘rare’ plant at Bunnings: See why it’s under lock and key
- Beware: sneaky trick emerging with Bunnings’ new recycling program
- You won’t believe this $3 Bunnings trick that could save your dying house plants
For many, a trip to the garden centre is more than a shopping errand—it’s a moment of peace, a chance to dream, and sometimes, a surprise worth remembering.
Have you ever come across a price tag that made you do a double take? Let us know in the comments.
