Monstera on moss pole

The Swiss Cheese Plant, or Monstera deliciosa, has deeply indented, shiny leaves, which may reach 50 cm or more in length when mature. The lobes are perforated with large holes, hence the nickname “Swiss Cheese Plant” and are either deep green or variegated with patches of cream and white depending on variety.

Young plants have entire leaves without perforations. The holes and incisions in the leaves allow strong winds to pas through the foliage, without risking too much damage – an ideal adaptation to its natural habitat in the hurricane belt of Central America (and the reason for one of its common names: the Hurricane Plant).