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

Plant

Taken by Ken Harrington on 18th October, 2019 at Sydney Botanic Gardens, New South Wales

Stem

Taken by Ken Harrington

Leaf (Front)

Taken by Ken Harrington

Fruit - Immature

Taken by Ken Harrington

Expand all

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

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

Maturity

2-4 yrs

Leaf Properties

Colour (front)

Glossy, Green

Glossy,

Green

Colour (back)

Green

Shape(s)

Cordate

Fenestrate

Pinnate / Imparapinnate

Cordate,

Fenestrate,

Pinnate / Imparapinnate

Aroma

None

Texture (front)

Glabrous

Leathery

Glabrous,

Leathery

Texture (back)

Glabrous

Leathery

Glabrous,

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

Incised

Pinnate

Entire,

Incised,

Pinnate

Cross Section(s)

Concave ribbed

Venation(s)

Pinnate

Arrangement

Alternate & Spiralled

Apice(s)

Obtuse

Base(s)

Obtuse

Attachment

Petiolate

Petiole Cross Section

Terete Concave

Bark / Stem / Culm Properties

Colour(s) Upper

Green

Colour(s) Lower

Green

Texture(s) Upper

Rough / Scabrous

Waxy

Rough / Scabrous,

Waxy

Textures(s) Lower

Rough / Scabrous

Waxy

Rough / Scabrous,

Waxy

Trunk / Stem Construction(s)

Pith Continuous

Wood - Soft

Trunk / Stem / Culm Cross Section

Terete

Trunk / Stem Feature(s)

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

Flower Shape(s)

Spathiate

Flower Size(s) Width

100-125mm, 125-150mm

100-125mm,

125-150mm

Arrangement(s)

Spathiate

Arrangement Size(s)

150-175mm, 175-200mm, 200-225mm

150-175mm,

175-200mm,

200-225mm

Flowers per Arrangement

many

Fruit Properties

Type

Drupetum

Shape(s)

Obloid

Tubulate

Obloid,

Tubulate

Outer Colour(s)

Green, Green Light

Green,

Green Light

Outer Texture

Pitted

Coarse

Length

200-250mm

Aroma

Fruity-Strong

Maturation for Fruiting

1 yr.

Seed Properties

Type

Achene

Colour(s)

Black, Black-brown

Black,

Black-brown

Seed Dispersal

Birds

Seed Number

many

Root Properties

Type

Aerial

Adventitious

Climbing

Aerial,

Adventitious,

Climbing

Texture

Fibrous

Cord-like

Colour(s)

Brown Light, Cream Deep, Green-white

Brown Light,

Cream Deep,

Green-white

Invasiveness

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

Moist

Damp,

Moist

Fertile , Deep , Shallow , Well Drained

Fertile,

Deep,

Shallow,

Well Drained

Salinities

None

Waterlogging Class

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

Bird Attraction

Insect, Fruit

Insect,

Fruit

Butterfly Attraction

Poor

Frog Habitat

Poor

Coastal

2nd Line

Edible(s)

Fruit

Fire Retarding

Moderate

Drought Tolerance

Poor

Frost Tolerance

Poor

Snow Tolerance

None

Minimum Temperature Tolerance

-2 - 0°C

Smog Tolerant

Moderate

Indigenous Use(s)

Roots - Weaving, ropes, baskets, Fruit - Eaten raw

Roots - Weaving, ropes, baskets,

Fruit - Eaten raw

Landscape Use

Moderate

Street Use

None

Commercial Use(s)

Horticulture - Amenity

Maintenance(s)

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

Dormancy

Winter

Humidity Requirements

Medium, High, Very High

Medium,

High,

Very High

Vulnerability

LC - Least Concern

Altitude Range - Habitat

0-100m, 100-200m, 200-300m, 300-400m, 400-500m, 500-600m, 600-700m, 700-800m, 800-900m, 900-1,000m

0-100m,

100-200m,

200-300m,

300-400m,

400-500m,

500-600m,

600-700m,

700-800m,

800-900m,

900-1,000m

Annual Precipitation Range

1,5oomm, 1,600mm, 1,700mm, 1,800mm, 1,900mm, 2,000mm, 2,200mm, 2,400mm, 2,600mm, 2,800mm, 3,000mm, 3,200mm, 3,400mm, 3,600mm, 3,800mm, 4,000mm, 4,200mm, 4,400mm

1,5oomm,

1,600mm,

1,700mm,

1,800mm,

1,900mm,

2,000mm,

2,200mm,

2,400mm,

2,600mm,

2,800mm,

3,000mm,

3,200mm,

3,400mm,

3,600mm,

3,800mm,

4,000mm,

4,200mm,

4,400mm

Fertilising Requirements

FR3, FR5, FR6, FR10

FR3,

FR5,

FR6,

FR10

Wind Tolerance

Not Wind Tolerant

Poisonous To

Cats, Dogs, Humans

Cats,

Dogs,

Humans

Poisonous Parts

Sap

Propagation

Fresh Seed, Soft Wood Cuttings

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'

Propagation Notes

Expand all

Fresh Seed

Sowing

Spring

Material Preparation

Collect the ripe fruit. Cut the fruit open and remove the section in the middle with the seed. Spread seed with any flesh attached across a paper towel and allow to dry. Pick out the seed and store in a cool, dark place.

Viability:-

Seeds/gram:-

Propagating Mix

Premium Seed Raising Mix

Treatment

Sow seed, cover lightlyt with mix. Water in with Previcur fungicide. Place on 25-30°C heated bed with misters. Maintain a hothouse temperature around 25 - 30°C at plant level and hothouse environment between 50 - 75% humidity where possible. Once germinated, spray fortnightly with fungicide and every 4 weeks with Seasol.

Viable seeds/gram:-

Germination time:-

Pricking out:- 20 - 30 days after germination

Tube Mix:- Premium Seed Raising Mix

Soft Wood Cuttings

Cutting

Cyclic

Material Preparation

Firm stem cuttings 50 - 100mm long, 1-2 nodes, remove 50% of leaf and any flowers. Place to one side to callous over the the fresh cuts overnight. Mist leaves frequently to keep hydrated. Wash off any soil from ground contact in a mild solution of Phosacid bath to kill any Phytopthera etc, from the field collection. Drain.

Propagating Mix

1 part Cocopeat + 1 part Perlite

Treatment

It is not necessary to dip cutting in Easiroot to speed up rooting. 3/4 fill 140mm pot with mix then place cutting and back fill and firm up till it can stand freely with the top section of the utting above the surface. Water in with Previcur fungicide. Mist frequently while continuing cutting process. Place in cold house or in cooler areas a hothouse. Maintain hothouse environment between 50-75% humidity and temperature between 20-30° C. Spray weekly with fungicide. Keep in bright but indirect light.

Strike Rate:- Field Stock

Nursery Stock

Rooting time:- Field Stock

Nursery Stock