Monstera subpinnata

Monstera subpinnata is one of the most visually distinctive members of its genus, a strongly heterobaric climber from the humid wet-tropical forests of south-eastern Colombia through Ecuador and Peru to Bolivia that produces mature leaves unlike the typical Monstera silhouette. Juvenile growth produces smaller, entire leaves as the stem ascends shaded supports; in brighter lower-canopy positions the foliage transitions to deeply pinnatifid blades divided into numerous narrow lateral lobes, giving a feather-like or palm-frond silhouette unlike any other Monstera in cultivation. The stem climbs with aerial roots and bears leaves at evenly spaced nodes. Its mature leaf form is distinct enough that it is often grown specifically for that architectural contrast with other Monsteras in a collection.

Native range

Southeastern Colombia to Bolivia (humid wet-tropical forest)

Classification

Genus

Monstera

Family

Araceae

Type

Wild

Growth habit

Strongly heterobaric hemiepiphytic climber

Morphology

Leaf shape

Juvenile: entire; Mature: deeply pinnatifidFoliage deeply lobed in a feather-like pattern, but not cut all the way to the central vein. with numerous narrow lateral divisions

Leaf length

30-65 cm (mature)

Leaf width

25-55 cm spread (mature)

Petiole colour

Green, medium-thickness, geniculate

Venation

Prominent midrib per division, pinnateVeins or lobes arranged like a feather, branching out symmetrically on both sides of a single main central vein. lateral veins

Texture

Thin-coriaceous, semi-glossy

Variegation

None

Growth habit

Climber with aerial roots, spaced nodes, strongly heterobaric leaf development