Raised in Detroit: How Rare Plant Fairy Grew from Passion to Purpose
Every plant has roots. So do we.
What began as a few propagated cuttings in a Detroit living room has grown into one of the nation’s leading luxury rare plant nurseries — and a company redefining what it means to grow responsibly.
This is the story of Rare Plant Fairy, and how we turned one weekend passion into a purpose-driven brand rooted in ethics, community, and care.
From Side Project to Seed Money
In early 2020, our founder Jocelyn Ho sold a handful of propagated plants from her personal collection on Facebook Marketplace. They sold out in a weekend, generating $1,000 — the seed money that became Rare Plant Fairy.
From that moment, Jocelyn saw the potential to disrupt an industry long defined by scarcity and secrecy. Instead of chasing trends or importing unsustainably, she built a business on three promises:
Raise the standard.
Do what’s right, even when it hurts.
Exceed expectations, always.
What began as a small home-based operation has since evolved into a Detroit-grown brand with a 12,000-square-foot vertical nursery, a full team of horticulturists, and an in-house research lab: RPF Labs.
Rooted in Detroit
Detroit is in our DNA — a city that’s built, rebuilt, and bloomed again.
Our headquarters run on 100% renewable energy through DTE Energy’s MIGreenPower program, and every plant we ship is nurtured under the watch of our Detroit growers. It’s not just where we grow; it’s what defines our work ethic, our innovation, and our belief that great things can grow anywhere.
We’re proud to be a local business that creates green-tech jobs and gives back to the community that made us.
Growth That Gives Back
At Rare Plant Fairy, growth means more than expansion — it means impact.
We provide health care, paid time off, and ongoing professional development for our team — benefits uncommon in small business but essential to our values.
We also support the Student Advocacy Center of Michigan, hosting field trips and funding programs that promote educational equity for Detroit youth. Because when we talk about growth, we mean it in every sense of the word.
Raising the Standard for Shipping
From the start, we set out to change how plants are shipped — not by cutting corners, but by setting new industry standards for care.
At Rare Plant Fairy, we don’t upcharge for essentials like insulation, heat packs, or weather checks. These are part of our commitment to responsible shipping, ensuring that every plant arrives healthy no matter the season.
We believe customer protection and plant safety aren’t “extras.” They’re the baseline of what excellence should look like.
Redefining the Plant Industry
Rare Plant Fairy was profitable from day one — without outside funding — and built on a simple idea: you don’t have to sacrifice integrity to grow.
Through RPF Labs, we’re investing in tissue culture research to clone endangered plants and make sustainable propagation the norm — not the exception.
We’re proving that beauty, science, and ethics can coexist — and that rarity doesn’t have to come at a cost to the planet.
One Million Pots of Happiness
Our mission is simple: to send one million pots of happiness.
Every plant we ship carries that intention — to bring joy, beauty, and connection to whoever receives it.
Whether it’s a first-time plant parent or a lifelong collector, we want every unboxing to feel like the start of something special.
Because at Rare Plant Fairy, we don’t just grow plants.
We grow joy.
We grow possibility.
We grow the future.
The Rare Plant Fairy Promise
From Detroit to doorsteps around the world, we’re proof that sustainable business and human connection can thrive together.
Discover more about our mission and explore our collection of ethically grown, extraordinary plants.
Explore Rare Plant Fairy →