MONSTERA

Monstera dubia is one of the most extraordinary Monsteras you can grow. As a juvenile, its silver-green leaves cling tightly to a board, plank, or tree trunk in a unique growth habit called shingling, creating a stunning living mosaic unlike any other houseplant. Native to the rainforests of Central and South America, it naturally climbs upward while hugging the bark to maximize light and withstand heavy tropical rains. Once it reaches the top of its support, the plant undergoes a spectacular transformation, producing enormous deep-green leaves with classic Monstera splits and holes that can exceed 2 feet long. Thick stems root easily at every node, making propagation simple. First described by German botanist Karl Koch in 1845, the species gets its name, dubia ("doubtful"), from the early uncertainty surrounding its classification. In its native habitat, mature plants produce an elongated edible fruit with a flavor reminiscent of other Monstera species, although flowering and fruiting indoors are exceptionally rare. A true collector's plant, Monstera dubia offers the rare experience of watching one plant transform into what looks like an entirely different species over time.

Rare collectible species from Columbia. It starts out with somewhat light green undivided leaves, then begins to split as the plant matures growing small splits along the leaf. Eventually, the plant will set up in a nook or a joint in a tree and begin growing as if nesting. This is where the plant becomes most interesting. The leaves become completely divided or pinnate.
The Monstera pinnatipartita is one such out-of-the-ordinary example. This evergreen climbs with epiphytic aerial roots and can grow up to 2 feet a year if growing conditions are optimal. Despite their show-stopping appearance, these plants are surprisingly easy-to-care-for.
While mature plants certainly have the wow factor, the smaller foliage on juvenile plants is solid rather than fenestrated. You'll need patience for the payoff if you buy this baby.
See Article about Philodendrons.

Rhaphidophora hayi, also known as the Shingle Plant (the same common name shared with Monstera dubia), is one of the most unique climbing houseplants you can grow. Instead of producing split leaves like its famous relative, the Mini Monstera (Rhaphidophora tetrasperma), this species climbs by anchoring itself with aerial roots and pressing its glossy green leaves flat against a wooden board or moss pole, creating a beautiful wall of overlapping foliage that looks almost painted onto the surface. It grows best on a porous support where its roots can naturally attach, gradually forming a stunning vertical display several feet tall. Slow-growing, easy to propagate, and happiest in bright indirect light with warm, humid conditions, Rhaphidophora hayi is a true collector's plant that turns an ordinary board into a living piece of tropical art.

Swiss cheese plant. A jungle climbing relative of the philodendron from Mexico and Guatemala. It is seen in gardens in tropical and subtropical areas, growing well in partial sun or shade. The plant begins bearing after three years. The large deep green, cone-like fruit is actually an unripened flower spike, covered with hexagonal scales that dry out and separate as the fruit ripens from the base upwards, revealing the white pulp. It takes a little longer than a year to mature to an edible stage.
See Article about Philodendrons.