Swiss cheese plant Monstera deliciosa
Swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa) is an evergreen perennial shrub in the Araceae family, native to Southern Mexico to Panama (rainforest, a climbing hemi-epiphyte). It grows 3–10 m (10–33 ft) tall and 2–4 m (6.6–13 ft) wide, wants shade and moderate water, and is hardy to about 7 °C (45 °F). Space plants about 2 m (6.6 ft) apart.
Plan Swiss cheese plant in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Swiss cheese plant at a glance
| Type | Perennial shrub, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Araceae |
| Mature height | 3–10 m (10–33 ft) |
| Mature spread | 2–4 m (6.6–13 ft) |
| Spacing | 2 m (6.6 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Shade, at least 2 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance low, waterlogging tolerance low |
| Soil pH | 5.5–7 |
| Cold hardiness | About 7 °C (45 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 11) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 35 °C (95 °F) |
| Flowering | from about May for 3–6 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | None |
| Pollinator value | None |
| Edible | Yes: fully ripe fruit (unripe fruit burns the mouth) |
| Native to | Southern Mexico to Panama (rainforest, a climbing hemi-epiphyte) |
| Common in gardens of | 🇲🇽 Mexico, 🇧🇷 Brazil, 🇹🇭 Thailand, 🇸🇬 Singapore |
Is Swiss cheese plant toxic?
- People: mildly toxic
- Cats: moderately toxic
- Dogs: moderately toxic
- Parts: leaves, stems, unripe fruit
Insoluble calcium oxalate crystals cause mouth pain, drooling and vomiting (ASPCA).
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Swiss cheese plant
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like shade and moderate water.
See Swiss cheese plant in a botanical garden
It grows in these sample gardens, which you can walk through in 3D:
- The Huntington (2 plants)
- UC Botanical Garden, Berkeley (1 plants)
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden (2 plants)
- China National Botanical Garden (3 plants)
- Missouri Botanical Garden (3 plants)
- Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro (4 plants)
- Denver Botanic Gardens (3 plants)
- Na ʻĀina Kai Botanical Gardens (4 plants)
- New York Botanical Garden (2 plants)
- Jardin botanique de Montréal (2 plants)
- Kew: glasshouses and rock garden (6 plants)
Questions about Swiss cheese plant
- How far apart should I plant Swiss cheese plant?
- About 2 m (6.6 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 2–4 m (6.6–13 ft).
- Does Swiss cheese plant need full sun?
- Shade: at least 2 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Swiss cheese plant need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is low and waterlogging tolerance low.
- How cold-hardy is Swiss cheese plant?
- It tolerates about 7 °C (45 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 11.
- When does Swiss cheese plant flower?
- From about May for 3–6 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Swiss cheese plant poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is moderately toxic; for dogs moderately toxic; for people mildly toxic. Insoluble calcium oxalate crystals cause mouth pain, drooling and vomiting (ASPCA).
- What grows well with Swiss cheese plant?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Swiss cheese plant. Group it with plants that like the same sun (shade) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
- ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, ASPCA
- UF/IFAS Extension tropical and subtropical fruit and landscape publications, University of Florida
Notes and assumptions
- Tropical: outdoors only in frost-free climates; in temperate gardens grow it under heated glass (as in the Kew Palm House).
- Climbs trees with aerial roots; leaves only develop holes and splits on mature, climbing plants.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Taro Colocasia esculenta
- Calla lily (arum lily) Zantedeschia aethiopica
- Caladium (angel wings) Caladium bicolor
- Lacy tree philodendron Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum
- Giant taro (elephant ear) Alocasia macrorrhizos
- Flamingo flower Anthurium andraeanum
- Tannia (malanga, yautía, cocoyam) Xanthosoma sagittifolium
- Elephant foot yam (suran, buk) Amorphophallus paeoniifolius