Types of monstera — 8 varieties from deliciosa to rare albo

Types of monstera — 8 varieties from deliciosa to rare albo

Monstera is a genus of around 50 climbing tropical aroids native to Central and South American rainforests, and roughly half a dozen ever show up in the houseplant trade. The most common — Monstera deliciosa — is the famous Swiss cheese plant of every coffee-shop wallpaper. The rest range from the budget-friendly adansonii vine to the four-figure variegated cultivars. This guide walks through the eight types of monstera you will actually meet, what makes each one recognizable, and where the houseplant trade is using species names loosely.

Match a monstera to your light: Photograph your spot in Growli and we measure the light level — then recommend which monstera will fenestrate properly versus stay in solid-leaf juvenile form.

A taxonomy note before we start

Monstera nomenclature in the houseplant trade is genuinely confusing, and it matters before you spend money on a "rare" variety:

• Monstera deliciosa vs M. borsigiana. Botanically these are now treated as the same species — most modern sources accept Monstera deliciosa as the only valid name, and "borsigiana" survives as a horticultural synonym for smaller, faster-growing, shorter-internode forms. If you see "Monstera borsigiana" on a plant tag, you have a deliciosa.
• Monstera obliqua vs M. adansonii. The plant labeled "obliqua" in 99 percent of shops is actually Monstera adansonii. True obliqua has been documented in the wild only about 17 times in history and is so thin you can see through the leaves. If a shop sells a "Monstera obliqua" for $30, you are buying an adansonii.
• Thai Constellation vs Albo Variegata. Both are variegated M. deliciosa. Thai Constellation is a tissue-culture cultivar with stable cream-to-yellow speckled variegation. Albo Variegata is a chimeral mutation with unstable bright-white sectoral variegation that can revert.

These three traps explain almost every "why does my monstera look different from the photo" question online.

The 8 types of monstera

1. Swiss cheese plant — Monstera deliciosa

The classic. Large, leathery, glossy heart-shaped leaves develop dramatic splits (fenestrations) and holes as the plant matures and gets enough light. Climbing in the wild — wants a moss pole indoors to develop adult leaves. The "Borsigiana" forms sold in small pots are botanically the same species but with shorter internodes and smaller juvenile leaves.

Care signal: Bright indirect light, water when top 2 cm of soil are dry.

Pet safety: ASPCA lists Monstera deliciosa (split-leaf philodendron / Swiss cheese plant / cutleaf philodendron) as Toxic to Dogs, Toxic to Cats due to insoluble calcium oxalate crystals. Chewing causes oral irritation, drooling, and vomiting.

Cross-link: see our full monstera care guide and /plant-care/monstera.

2. Swiss cheese vine — Monstera adansonii

The trailing cousin. Smaller, papery, perforated leaves with oval holes rather than edge splits. Stays a vine — never reaches the giant leaves of deliciosa. Common in 4-inch pots at supermarkets and big-box stores. Often mislabeled as "Monstera obliqua" in unscrupulous shops.

Care signal: Bright indirect light, water when top 2 cm of soil are dry. See /plant-care/swiss-cheese-vine.

Pet safety: ASPCA's "Cutleaf Philodendron" entry covers Monstera deliciosa and the calcium oxalate toxicity extends across the genus. Treat all Monstera adansonii as toxic to cats and dogs — keep out of reach.

3. Shingle plant — Monstera dubia

Juvenile leaves press flat against the climbing surface like roof shingles, with silver-green variegation on dark-green leaves. As the plant matures and climbs a moss pole, leaves enlarge and develop fenestrations — looking almost like a different species. Rare in retail; a collector favorite for unusual juvenile foliage.

Care signal: Bright indirect light, climbing support, water when top 2 cm dries.

Pet safety: Not separately listed by ASPCA. Assume potentially toxic and keep out of reach of pets — all Monstera species contain calcium oxalate crystals.

4. Silver monstera — Monstera siltepecana

Pointed silver-blue juvenile leaves with darker green veins. Trails until given a moss pole — climbing forms develop larger fenestrated adult leaves. The most affordable "rare" Monstera in US retail at roughly $20–40 for an established 4-inch pot.

Care signal: Bright indirect light, water when top 2 cm dries, climbing support to mature.

Pet safety: Not separately listed by ASPCA. Assume potentially toxic — keep out of reach of pets.

5. Five-holes plant — Monstera standleyana

Lance-shaped solid dark-green leaves on a trailing vine — no holes or splits despite the genus name. Many specimens are sold as the "Albo Variegata" cultivar with painterly white striping. Easier than most Monstera because it tolerates lower light.

Care signal: Medium to bright indirect, water when top 2 cm dries.

Pet safety: Not separately listed by ASPCA. Assume potentially toxic — keep out of reach of pets.

6. Monstera pinnatipartita

Heavily pinnate (deeply pinnately divided) mature leaves with splits cutting nearly to the midrib — looks almost like a giant tropical fern. Juvenile leaves are heart-shaped and unsplit; adult leaves emerge once the plant climbs. Less common than deliciosa but increasingly available in collector shops.

Care signal: Bright indirect light, climbing support, water when top 2 cm dries.

Pet safety: Not separately listed by ASPCA. Assume potentially toxic — keep out of reach of pets.

7. Monstera Albo Variegata — Monstera deliciosa 'Albo Variegata'

The famous chimeral variegated cultivar. Brilliant pure-white variegation in sectors, half-moons, or marbled splashes on otherwise classic deliciosa leaves. The variegation is genetically unstable — leaves can revert to solid green or revert to fully white (which then dies because the white tissue cannot photosynthesize).

Care signal: Bright indirect light (more light than solid-green deliciosa to support white tissue), water when top 2 cm dries.

Price (US, 2026): A 4–5 inch potted small Monstera Albo Borsigiana commonly sells between $80 and $250 from US specialty growers, with mature half-moon and high-variegation specimens reaching $400 to $4,000. Cuttings on Etsy start around $40 for a single unrooted node. Prices have softened considerably since the 2020–2022 peak.

Pet safety: Same as standard Monstera deliciosa — toxic to cats and dogs per ASPCA.

8. Thai Constellation — Monstera deliciosa 'Thai Constellation'

The lab-bred sister. Cream-to-yellow speckled and splashed variegation on classic deliciosa leaves, produced by tissue culture so the variegation is genetically stable — Thai Constellation will not revert. Variegated tissue contains some chlorophyll (the cream color), so it photosynthesizes more efficiently than Albo's pure-white tissue.

Care signal: Bright indirect light, water when top 2 cm dries.

Price (US, 2026): A 4–6 inch Thai Constellation runs $80–300 from US specialty growers, with mature plants $400–1,000. Prices have dropped substantially from the $400+ for 4-inch pots common in 2021 as tissue-culture supply has caught up with demand.

Pet safety: Same as standard Monstera deliciosa — toxic to cats and dogs per ASPCA.

How to choose the right type of monstera

For most US apartments, the answer is straightforward: start with Monstera deliciosa in a 6-inch pot ($15–35 at any big-box retailer). It tolerates ordinary light, forgives erratic watering, and develops the famous Swiss-cheese leaves in 18–24 months on a moss pole. If you only have space for a trailing plant from a shelf, swap in M. adansonii for $10–20.

Step up to variegated cultivars only after you have grown a green deliciosa for a full year. Variegated Monstera want more light than solid-green forms because the white or cream tissue cannot photosynthesize. In a sub-optimal light setup, an Albo will throw smaller leaves with less variegation, and a Thai Constellation will stall. The investment makes sense once your light is dialed in.

The shingling habit of Monstera dubia and the silver foliage of M. siltepecana are great choices for collectors who want unusual visual texture. The mature fenestration of M. pinnatipartita gives you the most dramatic foliage of any green Monstera. Skip "Monstera obliqua" listings under $200 — those are almost certainly mislabeled adansonii. The real obliqua is so rare that, when authentic specimens do appear at specialty growers, they typically command $500+ per node.

Common care across the genus

All Monstera share four needs across the genus.

Light. Bright indirect is the floor — direct morning sun through a sheer curtain is ideal. Low light produces solid juvenile leaves with no holes. Variegated cultivars need more light than solid green forms to support the lower-chlorophyll variegated tissue.

Water. Water when the top 2 cm of soil are dry. Monstera root systems rot fast in soggy substrate. A chunky aroid mix (two parts potting compost, one part orchid bark, one part perlite) drains the way the roots need.

Support. Most Monstera are climbers in the wild — a moss pole or coir totem unlocks larger adult leaves and faster maturity. Without support, deliciosa stays in juvenile heart-leaf form indefinitely.

Humidity. 50–60 percent humidity is the sweet spot. Below 40 percent, leaf edges brown and new leaves emerge smaller. A pebble tray or room humidifier helps in dry winter heating.

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Related articles

• Monstera care — light, water, common problems — the deep care guide
• Types of houseplants — 30+ varieties — the broader category
• Types of philodendron — 12 varieties — the closely-related aroid cousin
• How to identify a houseplant — 4 methods — once you have a plant in front of you
• Pet-safe houseplants — 20 non-toxic plants — for households with cats or dogs
• Common houseplant diseases — when something goes wrong

Reviewed and updated by the Growli editorial team. For questions about anything here, open Growli and ask — or email hello@getgrowli.app.