Genus · Araceae
Monstera
6 species tracked in Horta’s catalog, and the named cultivars growers keep. Walk down to a species for its full care record, or into a cultivar for its traits and provenance.
Species in this genus
The ones growers meet most — each links to its own page.
Monstera deliciosa
Swiss Cheese Plant
A climbing tropical aroid whose leaves split as it matures in bright, indirect light. Let the top inch or two of mix dry between waterings — it stores moisture and resents staying wet.
Monstera adansonii
Adanson's Monstera
A tropical climbing aroid from Central and South American forests, where it ascends tree trunks as an understory vine reaching for filtered light. It wants warmth, steady humidity, and a free-draining mix; let the top inch or two of mix dry before watering, and avoid leaving the roots sitting wet. Give it a support such as a moss pole to climb, mirroring its natural habit.
Monstera obliqua
Window-Leaf Monstera
A delicate climbing aroid from the humid lowland and understory forests of Central and South America, where it scrambles up trunks in dappled shade. Give it bright indirect light and a coarse, fast-draining mix, and water when the top inch is approaching dry — its thin leaves resent both drought and sitting wet. It genuinely wants high humidity and steady airflow to do well indoors.
Monstera dubia
Shingles Plant
Monstera dubia is a tropical climbing aroid from Central and South American forests, where it shingles flat against tree trunks in warm, humid shade. Give it bright indirect light, a surface to climb, and a chunky, fast-draining mix; water when the top inch or two of mix has dried, erring toward dry since its climbing roots rot if kept soggy. It favors consistently high humidity and warmth.
Monstera standleyana
Five Holes Plant
Monstera standleyana is a Central and South American climbing aroid from humid tropical forests, where it ascends trees as a vine. It wants warmth, bright indirect light rather than direct sun, and a chunky, well-draining mix; let the top inch or two of mix dry before watering again, as its roots rot if left sitting wet. A moss pole or support suits its natural climbing habit.
Monstera siltepecana
Silver Monstera
Monstera siltepecana is a Central American climbing aroid that begins life on the forest floor and ascends tree trunks, rooting as it goes. Give it bright indirect light, a chunky well-draining mix, and a support to climb, and water when the top inch or two of mix has dried. As a climbing understory plant it favors warmth and elevated humidity, but its aerial habit means it rots if left sitting wet.
About the genus
A genus-level overview — shared traits, history, the botany that ties these plants together — is on its way. For now, the species and cultivars above and below carry the genus.
Notable cultivars across the genus
The named forms that draw people in — spanning species, and every level of how well we know them.
Kept true by its growers
Monstera keeps evolving — species move, cultivars appear, IDs get corrected. If you can place an unplaced plant or add a species we’re missing, the whole genus gets truer.
Overview derived from 6 tracked species · the contribute flow arrives with the next slice.