Monstera dubia (Penanola)

Monstera dubia is an evergreen climbing aroid in the Araceae family native to the tropical rainforests of Central and South America. Juvenile plants are well known for their unusual shingling growth habit, producing small, silver-green leaves that overlap tightly and cling flat against tree trunks or other vertical surfaces with the help of aerial roots. As the plant climbs higher, the foliage gradually changes. Mature plants develop much larger, solid green leaves that project away from the support and eventually become deeply fenestrated, giving them a dramatically different appearance from the juvenile form.

Monstera dubia grows best in bright indirect light, warm temperatures, high humidity, and a chunky, well-drained aroid mix. It performs especially well when grown on a wooden board, moss pole, or tree fern panel that allows the stems to climb naturally. Thick stems root readily at the nodes, making propagation by stem cuttings straightforward. Hardy in USDA Zones 11-12. In warm parts of USDA Zone 10, it can be grown outdoors with protection from temperatures below about 40F . Flowering indoors is uncommon, although mature plants may produce edible fruits in their native habitat.