All Monstera Types Explained (With pictures or infographics)

You've seen them gracing social media feeds, adding a touch of the tropics to minimalist interiors, and perhaps even dominating a corner of your favorite plant shop. Monsteras are undeniably the rockstars of the houseplant world, beloved for their dramatic, often fenestrated (holey) leaves and relatively easy-going nature.

But here's a secret many don't realize: there's more to the Monstera family than just the classic Monstera deliciosa! This diverse genus offers a stunning array of foliage shapes, sizes, and growth habits, each bringing its unique charm to your indoor jungle.

Let's dive into the fascinating world of Monsteras, exploring their different types and what makes each one special.

The Two Growth Habits: Climbers vs. Trailblazers

Before we explore individual species, it's crucial to understand that Monsteras generally fall into two main categories based on their natural growth habit: Climbing and Trailing. This distinction is key to understanding how they'll look and thrive in your home.

🧗‍♀️ Climbing Monsteras: The Aspirational Giants

These are the Monsteras that naturally want to ascend. In their native rainforests, they start on the forest floor and climb up trees to reach the brighter canopy light. This climbing habit is what encourages them to produce those iconic, huge, fenestrated leaves. Providing a moss pole or similar support is crucial for their maturity!

🌱 Trailing Monsteras: The Cascading Beauties

While all Monsteras are technically vines, some are more commonly grown as trailing or vining plants, especially in a home environment where vertical support isn't always given. When grown without something to climb, their leaves tend to remain smaller and may not develop as many fenestrations. They're perfect for hanging baskets or shelves where you want a lush, cascading effect.

Meet the Monstera Family: From Famous to Fabulous

1. Monstera deliciosa (The OG, Swiss Cheese Plant, Hurricane Plant)

Growth Habit: Climbing Why We Love It: This is the classic. With proper care and support, its heart-shaped leaves can grow incredibly large, developing deep fenestrations (splits) and round holes as it matures. It's the quintessential "Swiss Cheese Plant" and a true statement piece.

2. Monstera borsigiana (The Speed Demon)

Growth Habit: Climbing Why We Love It: Often confused with M. deliciosa (and sometimes even sold as such), M. borsigiana is a smaller, faster-growing subspecies or variety. Its leaves are generally less ruffled and develop fenestrations earlier in its life. If you want a fenestrated Monstera fast, this is your pick.

3. Monstera adansonii (Swiss Cheese Vine)

Growth Habit: Trailing (can climb with support) Why We Love It: Instantly recognizable by its abundant, oval-shaped holes that almost look punched out. M. adansonii is an incredibly popular choice for hanging baskets, where its delicate, holed leaves create a lush, airy display. It can also be trained up a moss pole, which will encourage larger leaves.

4. Monstera standleyana (The Pointed Pet)

Growth Habit: Climbing (can trail) Why We Love It: This Monstera often goes unnoticed by those only familiar with fenestrations! M. standleyana features long, pointed, glossy leaves, often with beautiful white or yellow variegation in speckles or splashes. It's a striking plant that adds a different texture and pattern to your collection, and it absolutely loves to climb.

5. Monstera siltepecana (The Silver Monstera)

Growth Habit: Climbing (can trail) Why We Love It: Prepare to fall in love with its gorgeous silvery-green leaves, marked with darker green veins. While young leaves often show faint fenestrations near the midrib, mature, climbing M. siltepecana can develop more pronounced holes. It's a visually stunning plant, whether climbing or trailing.

6. Monstera dubia (The Shingle Plant)

Growth Habit: Climbing Why We Love It: This shy but stunning Monstera is known as the "Shingle Plant" because its small, heart-shaped leaves lie completely flat and overlap like shingles against a flat surface as it climbs. As it matures, it will eventually produce larger, fenestrated leaves. It's a fantastic choice for a unique wall-mounted display.

7. Monstera obliqua (The Holy Grail... or is it?)

Growth Habit: Trailing (can climb) Why We Love It: This is the legendary, ultra-rare Monstera often confused with M. adansonii. True M. obliqua specimens are incredibly delicate, with leaves that are mostly holes, featuring a paper-thin network of green. It's so rare in cultivation that if you see an "obliqua" for sale, it's almost certainly an adansonii. A true collector's item!

Variegated Monsteras: The Cream of the Crop

Beyond species, many Monsteras come in stunning variegated forms, featuring splashes of white, cream, or yellow. These are often highly sought after and can be significantly more expensive due to their rarity and slower growth.

• Monstera deliciosa 'Albo Variegata': The most famous, with striking white splashes on its large green leaves. Each leaf is a unique work of art.

• Monstera deliciosa 'Thai Constellation': Features speckled, star-like patterns of creamy yellow/white variegation against green. It's tissue-cultured, making it more stable and slightly more accessible than Albo.

  
  

• Monstera standleyana 'Aurea Variegata': Boasts vibrant yellow splashes and streaks on its pointed green leaves.

  
  

Which Monstera is Right for You?

Choosing a Monstera depends on your aesthetic preference and the space you have:

• For that classic, huge Swiss Cheese look: Go for M. deliciosa or M. borsigiana, and give them a sturdy moss pole.

• For a lush, cascading effect: M. adansonii is your best bet for shelves and hanging baskets.

• For unique leaf shapes and patterns: M. standleyana and M. siltepecana offer stunning texture and color without relying on fenestrations.

• For the serious collector: Keep an eye out for M. dubia or the elusive M. obliqua.

No matter which you choose, a Monstera is sure to bring a touch of the exotic and a whole lot of joy to your home!