Both plants share the nickname "Swiss cheese plant" and both belong to the genus Monstera, but set a mature specimen of each side by side and the resemblance mostly ends there. Monstera deliciosa is the plant behind nearly every giant-leafed jungle photo on social media; Monstera adansonii is the smaller, faster, lacier cousin that's just as popular for a very different reason. Here's how they actually differ, and which one fits the space you have.
The leaf tells you everything
Deliciosa leaves start out solid and heart-shaped on a young plant, with no holes at all — the deep splits and oval fenestrations that make the species famous only appear once the plant matures, usually after it has something to climb. Adansonii, by contrast, produces its signature oval holes from a young age, even on a small plant in a 4-inch pot, and the holes tend to punch closer to the leaf's edge, giving it a lacier, more open look than deliciosa's leaves ever achieve.
| Trait | Monstera Deliciosa | Monstera Adansonii |
|---|---|---|
| Mature size | Large, tree-like; leaves can reach 1–2 feet across with support | Compact and trailing; leaves rarely exceed a few inches |
| Fenestrations (holes) | Develop gradually with maturity and something to climb | Present from a young age, punched to the leaf edge |
| Growth habit | Upright climber, needs a moss pole or stake to reach full size | Fast trailer or climber, ideal for a hanging basket or small trellis |
| Light | Bright indirect | Bright indirect |
| Water | Every 1–2 weeks | Every 5–10 days — dries out faster due to smaller pot size and thinner leaves |
| Humidity | Average to high | Moderate to high; rewards extra humidity with lacier growth |
| Toxicity | Toxic to pets (ASPCA) | Toxic to pets (ASPCA) |
| Difficulty | Beginner-friendly | Beginner-friendly |
Space is the real deciding factor
Deliciosa eventually needs real floor space and a sturdy support to climb — a mature specimen against a moss pole can top six feet and spread just as wide, which makes it a long-term commitment for a room with the ceiling height and light to support it. Adansonii never asks for that kind of room. Left to trail from a hanging basket or a high shelf, it cascades attractively without ever needing a stake, and even trained up a small trellis it stays a fraction of deliciosa's footprint. If you're working with a small apartment or a shelf rather than a floor corner, adansonii is almost always the better fit.
Watering: a subtler difference than it looks
On paper, deliciosa's every-one-to-two-week schedule and adansonii's every-five-to-ten-days schedule look meaningfully different, but the underlying cause is mostly pot size and leaf-to-root ratio rather than a fundamentally different water need. Adansonii is typically grown in a smaller pot with a thinner root mass relative to its top growth, so that pot dries out faster regardless of species — move either plant into a larger container and the watering interval shifts accordingly. Both want the same thing in principle: water when the top inch or two of soil has dried, in a chunky, well-draining aroid mix that never stays soggy.
Getting fenestrations on either plant
If leaf holes are the reason you want one of these plants, patience matters more for deliciosa than for adansonii. A young deliciosa often produces several solid, hole-free leaves before its first split appears, and consistent bright light plus something to climb (a moss pole works well) speeds that transition along. Adansonii doesn't require the same wait — its holes show up early — but like deliciosa, brighter light and higher humidity both produce larger, more deeply fenestrated leaves than a plant left in a dim corner.
Why they get mixed up as seedlings
At the nursery stage, before deliciosa has developed any fenestrations at all, the two can look surprisingly similar — both are solid green, heart-shaped, and roughly the same size as tiny plants. The tell is growth habit even at this stage: adansonii already shows a more trailing, vining posture with thinner stems, while young deliciosa tends to grow more upright with a slightly thicker, sturdier stem, foreshadowing the tree-like form it will eventually take. If a tag is missing or wrong, waiting a few months for the first new leaf usually settles it — a hole-punched leaf on a small plant is adansonii; a solid leaf that just keeps getting bigger is deliciosa working up to its first split.
So which should you grow?
Choose monstera deliciosa if you have the floor space, ceiling height, and patience for a plant that becomes a genuine architectural centerpiece over several years. Choose monstera adansonii if you want fast, full, lacy growth in a hanging basket or on a small shelf, without committing a corner of the room to a climbing structure. Many growers who love the Swiss-cheese look end up with both, since their care overlaps almost completely and their finished looks are different enough that they don't compete for the same spot in a room.