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11 Best Types of Monstera Plants To Grow

Are you looking for an eye-catching houseplant collection with fancy foliage? Then, pick one of the best Monstera varieties here. One thing is for sure: it will add an instant green appeal to your indoor plant collection.

Types of Monstera Varieties

There are at least 50 different types of Monstera plants in the world. The most common and gorgeous ones we always see in the garden centers, neighbors’ yards, influencers’ posts, and homes are gorgeous either in their native rainforest or even in the laboratory.

Monstera deliciosa

monstera deliciosa in a basket

Monstera deliciosa is a popular tropical houseplant recognized for its large, glossy, heart-shaped leaves with dramatic split leaf edges and holes. Originally from southern Mexico and Panama, this climbing evergreen vine can grow over 30 feet tall in the wild but is often kept smaller when grown indoors. 

Monstera borsigiana

monstera borsigiana

The Monstera borsigiana is a sub-form of the Monstera deliciosa and has smaller leaf stems that are thinner with longer internodes. It is a fast grower and climbing plant that responds well to a moss pole or vertical support.

The Monstera species is also available as variegated plants known as the Monstera Variegata or Albo Borsigiana. You can find small pieces of the stem sold for hundreds of dollars. The Albo variegata has dark green to white leaves with shades of green in between.

You may even see a marble effect as the shades mix while other leaves have vast patches of white, looking like a half-moon. We are happy to provide bright indirect light to keep this Monstera variety and prevent the soil from getting waterlogged.

Monstera adansonii / Swiss Cheese Plant

monstera adansonii

Monstera adansonii, commonly called the swiss cheese plant is a vining plant with fenestration on its leaves. 

These types of monstera can climb relatively high, but with the smaller foliage, they have a compact stem and shape. 

The Obliqua has more prominent holes in the leaves compared to the Monstera adansonii. Nonetheless, this outdoor plant is petite, and caring for it is a breeze. You can provide your Monstera plant with a moss pole to train it or leave it dangling from a hanging basket.

The plant does not enjoy wet feet, and having plenty of drainage is thus essential. Place it in bright, indirect light, and it will flourish. Another fun thing is some of these varieties produce edible fruit when grown in the right conditions.

There is also a variegated Monstera cultivar, the Archipelago, resulting from a random mutation.

Monstera pinnatipartita

When you look at types of Monstera, the Monstera pinnatipartita is a more extensive variety with a more compact stem growth and shorter internode spacing. Hence, it grows less like a vining plant. Pinnatipartita has deep slots with round holes near the leaf rib of a mature plant.

On the small leaves, there is a rough texture with hollow veins. It thrives in bright indirect light with well-draining soil and does not need a moss pole as it has compact growth and is a slow creeper.

Monstera siltepecana

monstera siltepecana

If you want a rare species, then the Monstera siltepecana is what you need. It has silvery green leaves and is known as the Silver Monstera. You see dark green veins and edges. The foliage is long and pointy.

The juvenile leaves have no holes but grow to the light as the plant matures. Allowing your plant to be fenestrated with mature leaves helps support your Monstera plant when climbing.

Or, you can grow these types of Monstera as a trailing plant to leave the vines hanging from a pot edge.

Monstera standleyana

monstera standleyana

Many refer to these Monstera varieties as the Philodendron cobra on botanical garden websites. But it is not correct. It is a naturally variegated Monstera vine. It has dark green leaves with small spots/streaks that change to a creamy white or yellow.

The foliage is long, narrow, and different from the iconic heart-shaped leaves of your Monstera deliciosa. Once it reaches a mature age, fenestrations appear. It is also a slow-growing plant; the leaves point upwards instead of hanging down.

The Monstera standleyana needs added light for the variegated leaves to help produce chlorophyll in the light leaf sections. You can grow it as a runner, but it will survive better with some support.

You can also find other Monstera species in the Monstera standleyana variegated white on the leaves and stems. Then you have the Albo Variegata with white specks and a variegated yellow one with splashes of creamy and yellow dots.

Monstera acuminata

monstera acuminata

Other favored names for the Monstera acuminata are the shingle plant, Monstera karwinskyi, Monstera viridispatha, or Monstera grandifola. The Monstera plant looks similar to the Monstera adansonii as the holes do not reach the edges.

Even the overall shape of the two types of Monstera leaves differ. The foliage is defined by a curve found in the middle rib, with one side more expansive than the other. It grows as a shingle as a juvenile plant, but the leaves become more perforated when it matures.

It only develops holes in the leaves when it is a foot long. The Monstera acuminate needs support to grow like a trellis or moss pole—a vining plant like the Adansonii with aerial roots.

Monstera obliqua

monstera obliqua

This is one rare plant, the Monstera obliqua or unicorn plant. Furthermore, many people confuse it with the Monstera adansonii. While both have loads of holes, there are some key differences.

On visual inspection, the Monstera obliqua looks like it has more holes than foliage as the fenestrations are extreme and look like lace. The leaf thickness also differs as it has delicate leaves compared to Adansonii.

Also, the Monstera obliqua can take a few years before the leaf holes start forming. The tropical plant is also demanding as it needs constant humidity. Using a humidifier will help. When it does not receive enough moisture, the leaves turn yellow and wilt, falling off.

Furthermore, it does not enjoy direct sunlight and thrives in peaty soil with enough drainage. The fun thing is that it produces stolons dropping to the ground to grow a new plant. Once it flowers, it forms up to eight clusters of spadix blooms.

Monstera ‘Thai constellation’

Monstera Thai @ evonne0309kk

The Monstera Thai Constellation is a rare plant not found in the wild. It has white to cream and green leaves growing up to six feet tall indoors. It is one expensive plant developed in a lab in Thailand.

The variegated leaves have shades of cream, white, yellow, or white with deep lances and holes. As a result, the foliage appears speckled or looks like starlike splashes. But you can find vast chunks of color as well.

As you guessed, it is a variegated plant from the Monstera deliciosa.

Monstera karstenianum

monstera peru

The Monstera Peru or Monstera karstenianum is a mini Monstera with small, leathery leaves shining in the light. You see no fenestration and are climbing plants that grow with support or hang from a basket.

All it needs is bright indirect light and enjoys well-drained soil. It can grow fast on vertical support but is not required. A variegated cultivar does not have a specific name and is a mutated Chimaera as the variegation was done spontaneously with cellular mutation.

Monstera dubia

monstera dubia @farsaithailand

Another great plant to add to your Monstera collection is the Monstera dubia. Its juvenile form has heart-shaped glossy leaves of light and dark green. The plant climbs up trees with aerial roots in nature.

The Shingle Plant grows with alternating leaves on the left and right sides of the stem to give it a neat appearance. It reveals its mature form once it is high enough to get light. The foliage turns a deep green hue with intense fenestrations.

Provide the Monstera dubia with a moss pole or another support to climb. The leaves press against the surface as they grow.

Whether you want to buy, sell or simply reach out to other plant enthusiasts, Plantly is the right place to be!