Did you know that Monstera Deliciosa is a bit of a weirdo? Monstera means “strange” in Latin. The plant owes its first name to the unusual leave holes. As a young plant, it has heart-shaped leaves, which transform with age to show the characteristic holes and notches⠀
Monstera deliciosa, called the Swiss cheese plant, is a species of flowering plant native to tropical forests of southern Mexico, south to Panama. It has been introduced to many tropical areas and has become a mildly invasive species in Hawaii, Seychelles, Ascension Island, and the Society Islands.
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Here’s some fun facts about Monstera Deliciosa:
1. Monstera deliciosa is a climbing, flowering plant that grows in tropical rainforests or other humid shady areas, and in the wild, they grow up tall trees and send down aerial roots to the ground where they take root.
2. The holes in a Monstera leaf have a function. By developing holes in its leaves, the large Monstera leaves are better suited to withstand heavy rainfall and wind as they let the elements pass through the holes. These abnormal leaves (monstera means strange in Latin) gave the plant its name. One of the cooler monstera facts right?
3. Monstera Deliciosa is native to southern Mexico, Central America, and Columbia and is also known as the ‘Swiss cheese plant’, ‘cheese plant’, ‘fruit salad plant’, ‘monsterio delicio’, ‘monster fruit’, and ‘Mexican breadfruit’ among others.
4. Monsteras were first discovered in 1693.
5. Monstera Deliciosa grow towards the darkest spot first, until they find a tree to climb up, and then they head for the light.
6. Monstera fruit exists and its delicious. In the wild, Monstera Deliciosa has incredibly rich fruit. It tastes like the combination of strawberries, passion fruit, mango, and pineapple. It is so delicious that the Monstera Deliciosa owes its name to it.