Monstera deliciosa Liebm.

Common name(s): Fruit Salad Plant, Swiss Cheese Plant, Window Leaf Plant, Ceriman, Split-leaf Philodendron

Family: Araceae Synonym(s): Tornelia fragans Gutierrez ex Schott, Philodendron pertusum Kunth & C.D. Bouche', Philodendron anatomicum Kunth & C.D. Bouche', Monstera deliciosa var. sierrana G. S. Bunting, Monstera deliciosa var. borsigiana Engl., Monstera borsigiana K. Koch
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Plant
Plant
Taken by Ken Harrington on 18th October, 2019 at Sydney Botanic Gardens, New South Wales
Stem
Stem
Taken by Ken Harrington
Leaf_front
Leaf (Front)
Taken by Ken Harrington
Fruit_immature
Fruit - Immature
Taken by Ken Harrington
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Plant Properties
Origin(s)
Belize
  • Belize: Indigenous
Costa Rica
  • Costa Rica: Indigenous
El Salvador
  • El Salvado: Indigenous
Guatemala
  • Guatemala: Indigenous
Honduras
  • Honduras: Indigenous
Mexico
  • Chiapas: Indigenous
  • Tabasco: Indigenous
  • Campeche: Indigenous
  • Yucatan: Indigenous
Nicaragua
  • Nicaragua: Indigenous
Panama
  • Panama: Indigenous
Plant Type
Climber
Climber
Climber Climber
Epiphytic Tree , Evergreen Climber
Epiphytic Tree,
Evergreen Climber
Climate Range(s) - Habitat
Temperate Warm, Mediterranean, Tropical-Sub, Tropical, Tropical Monsoon
Temperate Warm,
Mediterranean,
Tropical-Sub,
Tropical,
Tropical Monsoon
Aspect Range(s)
Shade - Dappled, Shade - Light, Shade - Medium
Shade - Dappled,
Shade - Light,
Shade - Medium
Habitat Range(s)
Rainforest - Monsoonal, Rainforest - Sub-tropical, Rainforest - Tropical
Rainforest - Monsoonal,
Rainforest - Sub-tropical,
Rainforest - Tropical
Habitat Zone(s)
Foothills, Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's, Heavy soils, Hills, Moist areas, Moist Slopes, Ridges, Sandy Moist, Scattered, Slopes, Understory, Well drained, Wet Pockets, Wind Protected
Foothills,
Gullies / Valley's / Canyon's,
Heavy soils,
Hills,
Moist areas,
Moist Slopes,
Ridges,
Sandy Moist,
Scattered,
Slopes,
Understory,
Well drained,
Wet Pockets,
Wind Protected
Mature Height
5-6m, 6-7m, 7-8m, 8-9m, 9-10m, 10-15m, 15-20m
5-6m,
6-7m,
7-8m,
8-9m,
9-10m,
10-15m,
15-20m
Mature Width
1.5-2m, 2-2.5m, 2.5-3m, 3-4m
1.5-2m,
2-2.5m,
2.5-3m,
3-4m
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Maturity
2-4 yrs
2-4 yrs
Leaf Properties
Colour (front)
Glossy, Green
Glossy,
Green
Colour (back)
Green
Green
Shape(s)
Cordate
Cordate
Fenestrate
Fenestrate
Pinnate / Imparapinnate
Pinnate / Imparapinnate
Cordate Cordate,
Fenestrate Fenestrate,
Pinnate / Imparapinnate Pinnate / Imparapinnate
Aroma
None
None
Texture (front)
Glabrous
Glabrous
Leathery
Leathery
Glabrous Glabrous,
Leathery Leathery
Texture (back)
Glabrous
Glabrous
Leathery
Leathery
Glabrous Glabrous,
Leathery Leathery
Leaf Width(s)
250-300mm, 300-400mm, 400-500mm, 500-600mm, 600-700mm, 700-800mm
250-300mm,
300-400mm,
400-500mm,
500-600mm,
600-700mm,
700-800mm
Compound Leaf Length
250-300mm, 300-400mm, 400-500mm, 500-600mm, 600-700mm, 700-800mm, 800-900mm
250-300mm,
300-400mm,
400-500mm,
500-600mm,
600-700mm,
700-800mm,
800-900mm
Margin
Entire
Entire
Incised
Incised
Pinnate
Pinnate
Entire Entire,
Incised Incised,
Pinnate Pinnate
Bark / Stem / Culm Properties
Colour(s) Upper
Green
Green
Colour(s) Lower
Green
Green
Texture(s) Upper
Rough / Scabrous
Rough / Scabrous
Waxy
Waxy
Rough / Scabrous Rough / Scabrous,
Waxy Waxy
Trunk / Stem Construction(s)
Pith Continuous
Pith Continuous
Pith Continuous Pith Continuous
Wood - Soft
Wood - Soft
Trunk / Stem / Culm Cross Section
Terete
Terete
Terete Terete
Trunk / Stem Feature(s)
Leaf Scar
Leaf Scar
Leaf Scar Leaf Scar
Long , Stemmed-multi , Stemmed-single , Weak
Long,
Stemmed-multi,
Stemmed-single,
Weak
Trunk / Stem / Culm Diameter
40-50mm, 50-60mm, 60-70mm, 70-80mm
40-50mm,
50-60mm,
60-70mm,
70-80mm
Flower Properties
Gender: Bisexual
Time(s)
Summer Early - Summer Late
Flower Colour(s)
Cream-white
Cream-white
Flower Shape(s)
Spathiate
Spathiate
Spathiate Spathiate
Flowers per Arrangement
many
many
Fruit Properties
Type
Drupetum
Drupetum
Drupetum Drupetum
Outer Colour(s)
Green, Green Light
Green,
Green Light
Outer Texture
Pitted
Pitted
Pitted Pitted
Coarse
Coarse
Aroma
Fruity-Strong
Fruity-Strong
Maturation for Fruiting
1 yr.
1 yr.
Root Properties
Type
Aerial
Aerial
Adventitious
Adventitious
Climbing
Climbing
Aerial Aerial,
Adventitious Adventitious,
Climbing Climbing
Invasiveness
None
None
Soil Properties
Type(s)
Clay-loam, Loam, Sandy-loam, Hummus Rich, Organic Matter, Premium Potting Mix
Clay-loam,
Loam,
Sandy-loam,
Hummus Rich,
Organic Matter,
Premium Potting Mix
pH Range(s)
Acid, Slightly Acid, Neutral
Acid,
Slightly Acid,
Neutral
Condition(s)
Damp
Damp
Moist
Moist
Damp Damp,
Moist Moist
Fertile , Deep , Shallow , Well Drained
Fertile,
Deep,
Shallow,
Well Drained
Salinities
None
None
None None
Waterlogging Class
W0 – Low tolerance
W0 – Low tolerance
Watering Requirements
WR2 - keep soil moist but never soggy, WR3 - never let soil dry out
WR2 - keep soil moist but never soggy,
WR3 - never let soil dry out
Other Properties / Uses
Bee Attraction
Poor
Poor
Bird Attraction
Insect, Fruit
Insect,
Fruit
Butterfly Attraction
Poor
Poor
Frog Habitat
Poor
Poor
Coastal
2nd Line
2nd Line
Edible(s)
Fruit
Fruit
Fire Retarding
Moderate
Moderate
Drought Tolerance
Poor
Poor
Frost Tolerance
Poor
Poor
Snow Tolerance
None
None
Landscape Use
Moderate
Moderate
Maintenance(s)
Dead Leaf Removal
Dead Leaf Removal
Pests/Diseases
Aphid, Mealy Bug, Scale
Aphid,
Mealy Bug,
Scale
Special Purpose(s)
Fire Retarding, Foliage-interesting, Fruit-aromatic, Fruit-decorative, Garden-Bali, Garden-Courtyard, Garden-Edible, Garden-Foliage, Garden-Indoors, Garden-Informal, Garden-Rainforest, Garden-Tropical, Groundcover, Irritating-Fruit, Litter Issue - Leaves, Playground Friendly, Pond Edge, Pool Side, Screen, Shady Moist, Specimen, Sunny Moist, Tolerant-Cockatoo's, Tolerant-Deer, Tolerant-Kangaroo's, Tolerant-Parrot's, Tolerant-Rabbits/Hares
Fire Retarding,
Foliage-interesting,
Fruit-aromatic,
Fruit-decorative,
Garden-Bali,
Garden-Courtyard,
Garden-Edible,
Garden-Foliage,
Garden-Indoors,
Garden-Informal,
Garden-Rainforest,
Garden-Tropical,
Groundcover,
Irritating-Fruit,
Litter Issue - Leaves,
Playground Friendly,
Pond Edge,
Pool Side,
Screen,
Shady Moist,
Specimen,
Sunny Moist,
Tolerant-Cockatoo's,
Tolerant-Deer,
Tolerant-Kangaroo's,
Tolerant-Parrot's,
Tolerant-Rabbits/Hares
Fertilising Requirements
FR3, FR5, FR6, FR10
FR3,
FR5,
FR6,
FR10
Wind Tolerance
Not Wind Tolerant
Not Wind Tolerant
Weed Potential(s)
United States
  • Hawaii: Declared
Australia
  • NSW: Naturalised
  • QLD: Naturalised

General Notes

A very popular house plant in temperate climates for its large, lush leaves or in gardens and landscape settings in warmer, sub and tropical climates. They need a support to grow up so for indoors, a stake, and for outdoors plant against a tree for it to climb up or some other structure.

It does grow a fruit that tastes like fruit salad, hence one of its common names. Unripe fruit contain needle like structures of calcium oxalate that can cause irritation to the mouth. Fruit will take more than a year to ripen. Once the lower scales on the fruit start to lift, cut the fruit off, place in a paper bag till the scales begin popping off, brush the scales off and the edible flesh is underneath. Cut away from the core and it can be eaten, considered a delicacy.

It has gained the Royal Horticlutural Society's Award of Garden Merit along with the cultivar Monstera deliciosa 'Variegata'