Monstera varieties - The ultimate guide

The Monstera is an integral part of our homes and can’t be missed. This amazing plant family originates from the dense, tropical jungles of South and Central America and consists of more than 40 different varieties, with the Monstera Deliciosa being the most famous one. All Monsteras have their own variation in size, colour and type of holes. Some of the Monsteras are extremely rare and have only been spotted in the wild a couple of times.

Are you looking to expand your Monstera collection? We are here to help you with a great start! We’ve highlighted the most well-known Monsteras for you.

Monstera Deliciosa

This green beauty is the most common variety of Monstera currently kept as a showpiece in many households. When you keep the Monstera Deliciosa indoors, she can grow up to a couple of meters! You can recognise this climbing plant through their enormous and shiny leaves. Because this beauty originates from areas of south Mexico and Panama, she is used to high humidity, moderate watering and indirect sunlight. Try creating the perfect conditions for Monstera when you want her to thrive in your home!

Photo by @deltidsbonden & @ebisu.homegarden

Monstera Borsigiana

The Monstera Borsigiana needs a bit of a background story. She looks a lot like the Monstera Deliciosa, which confuses many plant lovers. The Monstera Deliciosa is the only accepted species, whereas the Monstera Borsigiana is a sub-species of this popular plant. Fortunately, that doesn’t take away from the fact that she is beautiful! Borsigianas tend to be a bit smaller than the Deliciosas, but will grow more quickly. Also, her stem wrinkles a bit on the point where the leaves are attached to the stem. Can you spot the difference?

Photo by @plantmomofswfl & @rskyr

Monstera Adansonii

A completely different Monstera species is the Monstera Adansonii. She’s a lot smaller than her sister Monstera Deliciosa and tends to stay on the smaller side. This species is also called Swiss Cheese plant or Monkey Mask. Adansonii likes to climb, but you can also let this beauty trail down, which makes her an excellent hanging plant! The leaves of the Monstera Adansonii have holes in it, which don’t split the leaf as the Deliciosa. The care for this Monstera species is practically the same as all Monsteras. Lots of brightness, high humidity and regular watering.

Photo by @zzzdenda & @plantsntales

Monstera Pinnatipartita

The Monstera Pinnatipartita is a somewhat rare species of the Monstera family. She originates from South America and looks similar to Monstera Deliciosa. As the plant matures, the leaf transformation is super fun to watch and also a bit dramatic. With the right care, she even produces white, waxy flowers!

Photo by @la_mandragoracdmx & @olesplants

Monstera Dubia

The Monstera Dubia is a lesser-known variety, but it’s super gorgeous and has an interesting growing habit! She originates from the tropics of Central and South America and loves to ‘creep around’. When she’s young, her heart-shaped leaves are light green with dark variegation. They lie flat against whatever they are growing on. When she matures, she has some resemblance of the Monstera Deliciosa, with large leaves and no variegation.

Photo by @losroco & @daria__home

Monstera Siltepecana

This tropical beauty is a unique one in the Monstera family! She’s living quite the double life, because she looks totally different as a baby plant than when she’s a mature plant. The Monstera Siltepecana has oval-shaped leaves with gorgeous silver shimmering and dark green veins. She also gets called the Silver Monstera, and now you know why! When you want to grow this beauty in your home, we suggest placing a moss pole in her pot, as she really likes to climb!

Photo by @bitkieska & @fukkin_lee

Monstera Obliqua

The Monstera Obliqua is also known as the Unicorn plant, because it’s super rare. The leaves of this cutie are super delicate, paper-thin and have wavy edges. You have to be very patient around this beauty, because she’s a bit of a slow grower. Also, because she’s very rare, she’s also quite expensive! She also loves high humidity, which makes her perfect to place in a closed terrarium or mini greenhouse. The perfect way to keep her safe and thriving!

Photo by @whoputalltheseplantshere & @PLNTS_com

Monstera Karstenianum (Peru)

The Monstera Kartensianum, more commonly known as the Monstera Peru, is a rare plant that looks like a Monstera, but has the characteristics of a succulent. A bit confusing, right? The Monstera Peru is easy to care for, but she doesn't grow very large. She has thicker, glossy green leaves that feel a bit leathery. Unlike other Monstera varieties, this beauty doesn’t have any holes or splits in the leaves!

Photo by @planttey & @plantness

Monstera Acuminata

The Monstera Acuminata goes by many names. Maybe that Monstera Karwinsky, Monstera Viridispatha or Monstera Grandifola ring a bell? As you can see, she looks a bit like the Monstera Adansonii, but the shape of the leaves differ a little bit and the holes on the leaves are smaller.

Photo by @studio__eclectic & @coosigner

Variegated Monsteras

Variegated Monsteras are super easy to identify because of their appearance. Monstera Variegata will have partly white, cream or yellow leaves. There are a few popular and most-wanted sub-varieties of Monsteras with variegation such as:

Monstera Variegata Adansonii

The Variegated Monstera Adansonii is probably the most commonly known Monstera with variegation. A Monstera Adansonii with a colourful twist! This stunning plant will surely add some happiness to your home! She’s a fast growing plant and she likes to trail down or climb up. Her glossy foliage is green with yellow-cream white tones.

Monstera Deliciosa Variegata

This beauty is the extravagant sister of Monstera Deliciosa. The Monstera Deliciosa Variegata really stands out with her bold splashes of white-cream variegation on the dark leaves. Although she looks like a tough cookie, she’s super easy to care for! Just keep the humidity high and give her a splash of water every now and then!

Monstera Deliciosa Thai Constellation

The Monstera Thai Constellation is a variation of Monstera Deliciosa. Although she’s not their own species, she is a very popular and highly sought-after Monstera. The cream-colored variegation on her green leaves resembles a starry night sky, which gave it the name “Constellation.”

Monstera Albo Borsigiana

The Monstera Albo Borsigiana is a variation of Monstera Borsigiana. This houseplant looks a lot like the ‘Thai Constellation’, but differs for her pure white variegation on the dark green leaves. The variegation can be unpredictable and unstable since it occurs by a natural mutation, with some leaves turning green or entirely white.

Monstera Standleyana

The Monstera Standleyana is often known as the Five Holes Plant. She’s a stunning climber and has variegated leaves that are brightly coloured. Monstera Standleyana ‘Aurea Variegata’ is a variegated form of this variety. Her leaves are oval with variegation in different forms: dots, speckles or strokes. A real must-have plant!

Grow your Monstera collection!

These are the most common, rarest or most wanted Monsteras. Luckily, these varieties have very similar care needs, so you won’t have to re-learn how to take care of each different Monstera! Did you pick a favourite already? Grow your home and shop your new Monstera online!