What ’s in a name ? Well , when it come to the schism - leaf philodendron vs monstera deliciosa , here ’s what we know
Through social media , millennials have rekindled a love of houseplant . One plant life has become specially famous — or at leastInstagram - famous . It ’s immediately remindful of a tropical rainforest : immense , dark putting surface , waxy parting , with interesting perforation in them that do n’t even imply poor care . This isMonstera deliciosa . Or is it a tear - leafphilodendron ?
The monstera , as it ’s often called , istropically nativeto Mexico , where it ’s principally treasure for its yield ( hence the scientific name ) . But it also thrives as a houseplant : Itdoesn’t need much water , tolerates intermediate amounts of sunlight , and can grow impressively large .
Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.Credit: Image courtesy of Adobe Stock.
This is also a plant with a broad potpourri of names , many referring to its tasty fruit ( “ fruit salad plant , ” “ monster yield ” ) and some to its leaves . Those leaves , in the right environs , develop holes . “ Swiss cheese plant ” is one ceriman nickname that citation to those holes . Another is fragmented - leaf philodendron .
philodendron are a jolly large genus offlowering plant ; if you ’re into horticulture , you ’re probably familiar with some of its member , like thepeace lily . But the monstera is not , technically speaking , a philodendron at all .
Both the ceriman and true philodendron are part of the aroid family , a much large group of plants that also includes the ever - popularpothos , one of the world ’s prettiest andeasiest houseplants . These flora are all pretty alike : They have similar water and abstemious needs , they come from roughly the same climate , and they contain Ca oxalate , which makes themtoxic to both humans and pets . Many of these plants have interesting folio pattern , with lacy fingers , broad lobe , spunk - shaped leave-taking , orbright pink veins . The monstera surely looks and work like a philodendron , even though it is n’t separate as one .
Credit: Jacob Fox
This is where it experience complicated . There are two true coinage of philodendron thatalsogo by the name split - leaf philodendron : Philodendron bipinnatifidumandPhilodendron selloum . These plant are both entirely unlike plant than ceriman , but go by the same sobriquet in some case . No curiosity we ’re confused !
plant life designation can be sly , with industrial plant have whole different names depend on where you are or who ’s describing them . vulgar works names can even differ by region and contemporaries . You might desire to start brush up on your Latin names !
