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Meet the monsteras: varieties, quirks and how to care for each

University of Minnesota Extension says the Swiss cheese plant became a favorite in American homes back in the 1950s, and it has never really left. Its relatives are just as charming, from small-leaved climbers covered in holes to silvery vines and rare collector plants. This guide introduces the monsteras you are most likely to meet, how to tell them apart, and how to keep each one growing happily.

Monstera deliciosa with large split leaves climbing a moss pole indoors in soft sunlight
Photo by Esra Afşar on Pexels

What do all monsteras need?

Monsteras are climbing vines from tropical forests in Mexico, Central America and South America. In nature they grip tree trunks with aerial roots and climb toward the light. The North Carolina State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox recommends warm temperatures of 60 to 85°F, moderate brightness out of direct sun, high humidity and sturdy support to keep the stems from breaking.

Light shapes the leaves. University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension notes that a monstera grown in too little light will not develop its famous holes, which botanists call fenestrations. A moss-covered pole or slab of bark gives the aerial roots something to hold, and Wisconsin Extension suggests keeping that support damp so the roots can take up water too.

Which monstera varieties will I meet?

Each entry below covers the look, size, light, the cue to check before watering, difficulty, pet notes from trusted lists and a rarity note. Rarity notes are general guidance unless a source is named.

Swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa)

Monstera deliciosa with split leaves in a black pot on a sunlit floor
Photo by Anca on Pexels

Young plants have solid heart-shaped leaves, and the splits and holes appear as the plant matures. North Carolina State Extension says it can reach 70 feet in the wild and usually stays at 6 to 8 feet in a home.

Swiss cheese vine (Monstera adansonii)

Monstera adansonii with many oval holes in its leaves growing indoors
Photo by Jardín De Neko on Pexels

Smaller and faster growing, adansonii fills a moss pole or a hanging basket with heart-shaped leaves full of oval holes. North Carolina State Extension describes it as a popular houseplant with a fast growth rate.

Window-leaf monstera (Monstera obliqua)

Monstera obliqua with thin heavily holed leaves climbing a palm trunk in a botanical garden
Photo by Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

True obliqua is a rare monstera, with leaves so full of holes they can look like lace. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) describes it as rare, compact and slow growing. The National Parks Board Singapore notes that it looks similar to adansonii, which has thicker leaves, so buy only from a seller you trust.

Variegated Swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa 'Albo Variegata')

Monstera Albo with large white and green sectored leaves on moss poles
Photo by Huy Phan on Pexels

'Albo Variegata' splashes the classic leaf with bold patches of white. North Carolina State Extension calls it a striking plant that is rare and expensive, and notes that variegated cultivars need more sunlight than darker green ones.

Silver monstera (Monstera siltepecana)

Monstera siltepecana with small pointed silvery green leaves climbing in a conservatory
Photo by Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Siltepecana changes as it grows. North Carolina State Extension explains that young leaves are small, pointed and silvery green with dark veins, and once the plant climbs, new leaves grow larger, greener and develop holes. Let it trail from a basket and the leaves stay small and silvery.

Is Monstera borsigiana a different plant?

Kew lists a 2020 study by Cedeño-Fonseca and colleagues among the authorities it follows here. The borsigiana name lives on in plant shops, and the plant itself is a Monstera deliciosa.

Why are some monsteras so rare?

University of Minnesota Extension explains that the white and yellow patterns in variegated monsteras come from mutations that reduce chlorophyll, the green pigment plants use to capture light. Less chlorophyll means slower growth, and some patterns can fade as green growth takes over. Minnesota Extension adds that seeds cannot carry variegation, so skip any offer of variegated monstera seeds.

Two more names you may spot on collectors' lists:

Monstera 'Thai Constellation' in a pot on a wooden floor, its large split leaves speckled and streaked with cream, with one leaf showing a broad cream section
Photo: Julian Gonzalez / Grove

How do the varieties compare?

In the table, NC State means North Carolina State Extension. Rarity entries without a named source are general guidance.

How do the varieties compare?
VarietyLeaf sizeHolesHabitLightWater checkRarity
DeliciosaVery largeSplits and holes when matureClimber, 6 to 8 feet indoorsModerate to bright, no direct sunTop quarter to third dryWidely available
AdansoniiMediumMany oval holesClimber or trailer, 3 to 8 feetBright indirectFinger checkCommon
ObliquaSmall and thinVery manySlow trailer, 3 to 5 feetBright indirect, humidJust moist in winterRare (RHS)
'Albo Variegata'Very largeAs deliciosaClimber, slowerBrighter than deliciosaTop quarter to third dryRare and expensive (NC State)
'Thai Constellation'Very largeAs deliciosaClimber, slowerBrighter than deliciosaTop quarter to third dryRare (NC State)
SiltepecanaSmall, bigger when climbingOn adult leavesClimber or trailer, 5 to 8 feetBright indirectTop 1 to 2 inches dryMany plant shops
StandleyanaMediumSmall holes with ageCompact climber, 3 to 5 feetBright indirectJust moist in winterCollector plant

How do I know when a monstera needs water?

A quick check before each watering keeps you in step with your plant. Push a finger into the mix and feel for dryness at the depth listed for your plant. When it is ready, water thoroughly until water runs from the drainage holes, then empty the saucer. Wisconsin Extension notes that leaves may "sweat" when the mix stays too moist, a sign to water less and protect the roots from rot.

Yellowing leaves on soggy soil usually point to overwatering, and our guides to yellow leaves and root rot walk you through the fix.

How do I grow more monsteras from cuttings?

University of Minnesota Extension says a monstera can only be propagated when the cutting includes a node with its bud, and roots form in about 2 to 4 weeks. Wisconsin Extension suggests cutting a stem tip just below an aerial root. Our water propagation guide walks through taking the cutting, caring for it in water and moving it into soil.

Are monsteras safe around cats and dogs?

The ASPCA lists Monstera deliciosa as toxic to cats and dogs, and North Carolina State Extension says the same for adansonii and siltepecana. The insoluble calcium oxalates in the leaves cause mouth pain and drooling. A high shelf, a hanging basket or a room your pets don't visit keeps everyone comfortable. For more pet-friendly ideas, see our beginner plants that still look good.

How does Grove help with a monstera?

Grove builds a care plan from the species, how you grow the plant, and whether it lives indoors or outdoors. The method you choose shapes watering technique and how often you water, feeding, pruning, repotting and the task rhythm, and the watering task is a check that asks whether the plant needs water today. When a rooted cutting moves from a jar into a pot, change the method and rebuild the plan. New to plants? Our first plant guide is a friendly start, and our tour of big-leaf houseplants introduces more dramatic foliage.

Sources

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