Most Expensive Cultivar

Well, that's a bit nuts but there are a couple of ways to look at this. First is the old question of supply and demand. My best guess is that there are about 50 plants of Black Dragon available each year at the beginning of the year. These sell out (at reasonable prices) by the time spring shipping rolls around and then there are very few plants of it offered after that time. So, in an auction, if someone is willing to pay $180 at the end of the year instead of $20 (more or less) at the beginning of the coming year that is their business. Seems unreasonable to me, but that's how it is.

The second way to look at it is whether Black Dragon is worth the high price when you compare it to other varieties. I'm talking flower and bush qualities, not rarity. The flower is excellent, especially in warmer climates which bring out the white rays, while the bush is pretty awful. Compared to some other varieties, including Black Dragon offspring such as Burnt Saffron and Black Dream it's hard to make a case that Black Dragon is worth the high price you found.

Charlie