Your guide to the Swiss Cheese PlantSingC – Getty Images
With dark and glossy heart-shaped leaves, the Swiss cheese plant, known by its most common scientific name as Monstera deliciosa, is a tropical perennial native to South and Central America. As its leaves grow, they develop holes which give the plant the appearance of Swiss cheese, hence the name.
A woody vine, the Swiss cheese plant can get to an impressive size when growing outdoors, reaching more than 20m in height and with leaves over three feet wide. Indoors, it makes a striking houseplant which is exceptionally easy to care for whatever your level or experience.
What is a Swiss cheese plant?
The category of plant, or the genus, of this plant is Monstera. Under that title there are several different species sold, all of which go by the common name of Swiss cheese plant. Popular varieties include Monstera deliciosa, the most commonly found, with its long and elegant leaves and elongated holes. Monstera adansonii has heart-shaped leaves with holes, and Monstera epipremnoides has slashes through the outer edges of its leaves instead of interior holes.
Whichever kind you bring home, they’re all gorgeous and equally easy to care for. In its natural habitat in both Central and South America, there are over 40 varieties growing wild – a whole jungle just of monsteras.
The process by which a Swiss cheese plant becomes a Swiss cheese plant is called fenestration, which means that as the plant ages, its leaves develop holes or slashes. This plant is a natural climber and does well in environments with lots of indirect sunlight. You can also plant them outdoors if you have a spot with both sunlight and partial shade. Be prepared for your Swiss cheese plant to grow fast if it’s happy and healthy, with a growth rate of around one to two feet a year. For animal-loving plant owners, it’s important to note that this plant can be toxic to pets.
@ZZZDIM – Getty Images
The Swiss cheese plant at a glance:
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