Monstera adansonii (Swiss Cheese Plant)

Monstera adansonii, commonly called Swiss Cheese Plant, is one of the most endearing and distinctive tropical houseplants you can grow, beloved for its heart-shaped leaves that develop dramatic natural holes and perforations as they mature. The fenestrations, those characteristic oval windows cut into each leaf, give the plant a lacy, sculptural quality that looks almost designed.

In its native tropical habitat, adansonii climbs trees using aerial roots, and it brings that same vining energy to the home. Given a moss pole, trellis, or wall hook, it will climb enthusiastically, producing larger leaves as it ascends. It can equally be grown as a trailing plant from a shelf or hanging basket.

Monstera adansonii prefers bright indirect light and consistently moist but well-drained soil, along with the moderate to high humidity that its tropical origins demand.