Even the most experienced plant lovers can have a hard time telling some plants apart. This can be because certain plants share common features, like heart-shaped leaves, while others have similar nicknames. Monstera adansonii and Philodendron are two plants that are commonly confused with each other, with even some garden centers mislabeling these plants.
Are Monstera adansonii and Philodendron the same plant? No. While some people mistakenly use these plant names interchangeably, Monstera adansonii and Philodendron are two different plants. That said, these plants do have some similar features and are related in some ways.
If these plants are different but similar-looking and related, how can you hope to tell them apart? Keep reading for useful tips and some scientific information to help you understand Monstera adansonii and Philodendron plants’ similarities and differences. The first step? A trip to Science class!
A Scientific Understanding of Plant Classification
You might remember learning about Classification, or “Taxonomy,” in school. Classification is the science of placing plants and animals in categories based on their similarities. The categories typically used in Taxonomy are Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species.
These categories are typically shown in descending order, and as you work your way down the list, the plants in each group become more similar.
For example, all plants belong to the Kingdom “Plantae,” but that Kingdom contains five main Phylum, including Coniferophyta (plants that have needles and cones, like Pine Trees), Bryophyta (mosses and Liverwort), and Spermatophyta, which are plants with roots, stems, seeds, and leaves. Spermatophyta also contains Philodendron and Monstera plants, as well as nearly all houseplants.
Philodendron and Monstera adansonii plants are also members of the Class called Monocotyledons, which emerge from seeds with only one leaf. The similarities continue, with Monstera and Philodendron sharing the same Order (Water plantains, growing in damp areas) and Family (Araceae, in which flowers grow surrounded by a modified leaf structure).
And while this makes Monstera and Philodendron similar in their appearance and structure, this is where the shared categorization ends. Monstera adansonii is a member of the Genus Monstera. There are 45 Monstera species, which include Monstera obliqua and Monstera dubia. The Genus Monstera is characterized by leaves that develop unique, lacy holes as they mature, many of which can grow as vines.
Philodendron plants are part of the Genus Philodendron, containing 489 species. These plants vary significantly, with some having a split-leaf shape, while others have full leaves.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that, while Monstera adansonii and Philodendron plants are similar, they aren’t the same. As different species, they have different needs and will exhibit different characteristics as they grow. For example, while both Monstera adansonii and Philodendron plants can be rooted in water, some species of Philodendron plants can live healthily in water their whole lives. But Monstera adansonii cannot.
Understanding these differences can help you make the best plant choice for you and help you successfully care for, diagnose, and propagate your plant collection.
What Is a Monstera?
Monstera adansonii is sometimes called “the Swiss cheese plant” and is famous for its distinctive heart-shaped leaves, which become laced with holes as the leaves mature. As beautiful as they can be, these holes serve a practical purpose, allowing wind to pass through the plant without tearing the leaves, while also allowing sunlight to reach lower parts of the plant.
A climbing plant native to tropical forests in Mexico and Panama, Monstera adansonii can climb to heights of 10 feet inside. Monstera adansonii grows quickly as a houseplant, making them a satisfying addition to a home or office. They are also an easy-to-care-for plant that, with indirect light and proper drainage, can stay lush and healthy for years.
What is a Philodendron?
Many Philodendron plants resemble indoor vines. It is common to see them hanging in baskets or growing along bookshelves. As we previously learned, Philodendrons share common ancestry with Monstera and are also tropical plants.
Heart-shaped leaves are also typical among Philodendron plants, and its name comes from the Greek word “philo,” meaning “love” or “affection.”
However, many philodendron species are even easier to grow than Monster adansonii and can be more adaptable to lighting conditions. Some species can even be grown permanently in water.
Why the Confusion?
The confusion between Monstera adansonii and Philodendron traces back to a few similarities. For example, both plants have heart-shaped leaves, and both Philodendron and Monstera adansonii can grow as vines.
Split leaf philodendrons also add to the misunderstanding because they also have leaves with splits that may resemble the “swiss cheese” holes of the Monstera adansonii. As a result, it is common to see the term “split-leaf” applied to Philodendron and Monstera plants and to see each plant confused for the other.
What Is the Difference in Monsteras and Philodendrons?
So, is there any hope for telling these plants apart? Yes, there is! Monstera adansonii and Philodendron are related plants, but there are important differences.
The easiest difference to spot is in the fenestrations. Fenestration is a scientific term for the holes that develop in the mature leaves of Monstera plants. While both Monstera and Philodendron plants can develop split leaves, only Monstera plants develop fenestrations. So, when you see a plant with split leaves, look carefully to see if those leaves also have holes accompanying the splits. If so, that’s a Monstera!
Another way to tell the plants apart is to look at any new leaves that might be forming. Philodendron leaves typically grow while surrounded by a protective leaf, called a cataphyll. At first, this will look a bit like a shoot instead of a leaf. As the leaf unfolds, the protective leaf will dry out on its own and disappear. This cataphyll is unique to a Philodendron and will not appear on a Monstera adansonii.
A final difference that might be easy to notice is that the leaves of a Monstera adansonii can be quite smooth and flat, even around the edges of the splits and holes. However, a split-leaf Philodendron will often have a slightly wavy texture around the splits.
Monstera Adansonii vs. Monstera Obliqua – Are They the Same Thing?
On the subject of Monstera adansonii, we should probably dispel one additional misconception – that Adansonii and Obliqua are the same plant. Unlike Monstera adansonii and Philodendron, Monstera adansonii and Monstera obliqua are members of the same Genus and are very closely related.
A Monstera obliqua is very rare and is prized among plant lovers. Sometimes called a “unicorn plant,” there are only a handful of times in history that an obliqua has been found growing in the wild. But, just in case you stumbled upon this treasured plant, how would you know?
While there is a famous variety of Obliqua that we will discuss in a moment, the most distinctive characteristic of an Obliqua is how thin and delicate it appears by comparison. The leaves of an Obliqua are paper-thin, and the holes tend to be rounder than those of the adansonii.
Obliqua also grows much more slowly and have a unique feature in the form of stolons. These stolons serve as “runners” growing along the forest floor and eventually form separate root systems and new plants.
And while these characteristics separate Obliqua variations from adansonii, the form of Obliqua that most plant lovers associate with the name is native to Peru.
The Peruvian Monstera obliqua looks like a Monstera adansonii, with mature leaves filled with lacy holes. However, an Obliqua has so many large holes that it has little leaf surrounding them – in fact, the amount of empty space within these leaves is roughly 80 – 90% of the surface area. The results in an incredibly delicate plant that is beloved by collectors and famous for its rarity.
Closing Thoughts
While sometimes it can be confusing to tell the difference between similar plants, it doesn’t have to be. Armed with these tricks, you should have an easier time distinguishing these plants and impressing your gardening friends with your new-found knowledge!