Did you know that the Monstera deliciosa plant (AKA "Swiss Cheese Plant") does indeed flower? Not only that, but it also produces an absolutely delicious fruit which I have tasted myself. Keep reading to find out all about the Monstera flower.
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The native range of Monstera deliciosa ranges from Mexico to Guatemala and it grows in wet, tropical conditions. It makes a wonderful houseplant and is very well-adapted to growing indoors.
Now let's take a look at 5 cool facts about the Monstera flower.
The genus Monstera belongs to the Araceae (aroid) plant family and they all have a distinctive, similar looking inflorescence (flowering structure).
Monstera deliciosa inflorescence
As you can see in the photo of the Monstera deliciosa inflorescence above, it is composed of two main structures. The spadix is the cylindrical structure in the middle, and the spathe is the white bract behind it.
It is incorrect to call this a flower, but rather, it is called an inflorescence. The flowers are actually numerous, and tiny, and are found on the spadix. The spadix will grow to be about 4-6 inches long,
All plants in the aroid family have a similar looking inflorescence including Anthuriums, Philodendrons, Pothos, and even the common ZZ Plant and Peace Lily. Aroids make up a large portion of the plants that we know and love to grow indoors!
2. CAN INDOOR MONSTERAS FLOWER?
It's very uncommon for a Monstera deliciosa to flower indoors. Unless you are growing one in a greenhouse, or outdoors in a climate that is warm year-round, it is unlikely to flower indoors in your home.
In fact, I have never seen one flower indoors. But I have seen them in bloom in my travels to warm climates where they grow outdoors. I've even seen one flower in a greenhouse in Ohio.
Although Monstera deliciosa is very well adapted to growing indoors and can easily become a beautiful specimen, the conditions inside the home are not conducive to flowering and it will rarely occur.
I'm not saying it's impossible, but it is unlikely.
They need pretty exacting conditions to bloom, similar to their native environment. This means warm temperatures, high humidity, plenty of water, and the appropriate light.
The flowers of Monstera deliciosa can be self-pollinating, since they have both male and female flowers, and they will actually produce an edible fruit!
3. MONSTERA FRUIT
Once the flowers are pollinated, the plant will produce a very tasty fruit. Here is what the fruit looks like on the plant.
An unripe Monstera deliciosa fruit.
Beware though, you must not eat an unripe fruit otherwise it may prove to be painful (causing a stinging sensation in your mouth) as a result of calcium oxalate crystals.
The fruits can take longer than a year to mature and ripen.
To learn more about the fruit, be sure not to miss my blog post on Monstera fruit. I had the pleasure of eating a ripe fruit, and it is absolutely delicious!
4. WHAT AGE DOES MONSTERA FLOWER?
In ideal conditions (meaning in its tropical habitat), it can take about 3 years for a plant to flower.
5. WHAT DOES A MONSTERA DELICIOSA FLOWER SMELL LIKE?
Since I've never had the pleasure of smelling one myself, I reached out to my buddy Enid Offolter from NSE Tropicals, a fantastic grower and seller of unusual aroids.
Enid stated that the inflorescence has a slightly fruity scent, and "when it's ready to be pollinated, it has a much stronger smell", but otherwise the scent is only "very slight."
Enid also mentioned "there is a certain point when it [the inflorescence] just opens when it's receptive, usually in the evenings where the scent will be really strong trying to attract pollinators."
I hope you've enjoyed this post on Monstera flowering. Have you ever seen a Monstera in bloom? Comment below. I'd love to hear!
Interesting reading.
Our monstera now 20 years old grew from a piece we bought with us when we moved from Melbourne to the Mornington Peninsula.
Although it is growing outside and on the west side of our home it is well shaded from the sun.
This year it has flowered! What an amazing thing to see.
My monstera had five flowers on it last year and this year it six more and it is just in the beginning of spring, so I wonder if there will be more?
The flowers from last year is in a paper bag just about ready to eat. I am so looking for to trying to eat for the first time.
I live in Melbourne, Australia and we even get frost here and it is thriving like no tomorrow. Some leaves are more than a metre across
We live in Canada and have a Monstera sitting near a window in our walk out basement home and it just bloomed! We are super surprised because we barely water it or do much to take care of it.
I live in Glendale Arizona and planted a Monstera on the north side of our house four years ago. It is a humid environment because of the pool; summers are tough on the leaves even though I keep it shaded. This year it is going to bloom and I am excited to see it happen. It is a slow process!
Hi! Thanks for the interesting post! I am living in Belgium and my (indoors) monstera is flowering at the moment. The two flowers are growing on the top of the plant that I grew from the mother plant - which was getting too big - some months ago. I don't live in a greenhouse 🙂 but we have a lot of light and warmth inside. Humidity is not that high though, but I water a lot. Not a strong scent at the moment. When the flower just started to open, I could recognize a 'dettol-like' scent, but very slightly. Can't wait to have a taste of the ripe fruit!
I’m in Melbourne Australia in the foothills of the mountains, winter finished a bit early and my monsteria lives outside.
I noticed something coming weeks ago… it’s was still only 15C days.
This week the weather warmed and yep there’s a fruit!
🤯
Lovely! I hope you're able to taste it when it is ripe. They're delicious! Just make sure they're ripe though otherwise it can be a painful experience 🙂
Hi, I live in Wales, and came across your page in a Google search to try and identify what was growing on my monstera in our oak framed conservatory. I had never seen this (I am 55 yrs old) and it’s two flower buds.
I hope you get this email because I would love to share pictures with you.
Hi there I have one flowering atm and can’t wait to taste it, is it true I might be wanting a year?? Also do you know anything about helping it to pollinate? My grandmother had one when I was still a child and she told me that you had to rub it up and down with your hand to pollinate it to get it to fruit? I also tasted her one, again when I was a child, it was delicious and can’t wait to try that taste again, to bring back the memory. I’m in Queensland, Australia. But my grandmothers plant was in Sydney, Australia.
Thank you for your post. I’ve been following you on instagram for many years.
Cheers
Carla
Hi Carla! I've never pollinated one, but your grandmother is probably correct 🙂 And yes, it is a long process from flowering to fruiting. It will be an exercise in patience! 🙂
I have one in my garden currently blooming. I can't wait to taste the fruitt. I live in South Africa. In quite a dry climate so it's somewhat unusual. It's a very happy plant though.
My monstera is massive. Originally a houseplant, it was put outside almost 40 years ago, under a prunus plum. While it flowers and fruits, I have never managed to beat the bees to taste it. This summer, after a very wet year, one 'trunk' has seven flowers almost or just opening. Another 'trunk' has 3, another 4. Fingers crossed by a tasting sensation.
It is shaded from scorching afternoon sun, and frosts in winter.
I have a large plant beneath my decking in Melbourne, Australia. It thrives although I have given it no tlc but it flowers and produces fruit regularly but I've never used the the fruit. I will now that I've learnt that they are edible. Thanks for the info!
Interesting reading.
Our monstera now 20 years old grew from a piece we bought with us when we moved from Melbourne to the Mornington Peninsula.
Although it is growing outside and on the west side of our home it is well shaded from the sun.
This year it has flowered! What an amazing thing to see.
Sounds like a happy plant! 🙂
My monstera had five flowers on it last year and this year it six more and it is just in the beginning of spring, so I wonder if there will be more?
The flowers from last year is in a paper bag just about ready to eat. I am so looking for to trying to eat for the first time.
I live in Melbourne, Australia and we even get frost here and it is thriving like no tomorrow. Some leaves are more than a metre across
Sounds like an amazing specimen! I assume you have it growing outside.
We live in Canada and have a Monstera sitting near a window in our walk out basement home and it just bloomed! We are super surprised because we barely water it or do much to take care of it.
Wow! That's amazing. Thanks for sharing!
I live in Glendale Arizona and planted a Monstera on the north side of our house four years ago. It is a humid environment because of the pool; summers are tough on the leaves even though I keep it shaded. This year it is going to bloom and I am excited to see it happen. It is a slow process!
So exciting! Have fun watching the whole process 🙂
Hi! Thanks for the interesting post! I am living in Belgium and my (indoors) monstera is flowering at the moment. The two flowers are growing on the top of the plant that I grew from the mother plant - which was getting too big - some months ago. I don't live in a greenhouse 🙂 but we have a lot of light and warmth inside. Humidity is not that high though, but I water a lot. Not a strong scent at the moment. When the flower just started to open, I could recognize a 'dettol-like' scent, but very slightly. Can't wait to have a taste of the ripe fruit!
That's so exciting Lore! It sounds like your plant is very happy! 🙂
I’m in Melbourne Australia in the foothills of the mountains, winter finished a bit early and my monsteria lives outside.
I noticed something coming weeks ago… it’s was still only 15C days.
This week the weather warmed and yep there’s a fruit!
🤯
Lovely! I hope you're able to taste it when it is ripe. They're delicious! Just make sure they're ripe though otherwise it can be a painful experience 🙂
Hi, I live in Wales, and came across your page in a Google search to try and identify what was growing on my monstera in our oak framed conservatory. I had never seen this (I am 55 yrs old) and it’s two flower buds.
I hope you get this email because I would love to share pictures with you.
Hi Sue, wow that sounds lovely! Would love to see. I will send you an email and you can reply with a photo. Thanks for sharing!
My 20+ year old split leaf in Montana is ready to open blooms. First time ever
Wow, amazing! Congrats!
Hi there I have one flowering atm and can’t wait to taste it, is it true I might be wanting a year?? Also do you know anything about helping it to pollinate? My grandmother had one when I was still a child and she told me that you had to rub it up and down with your hand to pollinate it to get it to fruit? I also tasted her one, again when I was a child, it was delicious and can’t wait to try that taste again, to bring back the memory. I’m in Queensland, Australia. But my grandmothers plant was in Sydney, Australia.
Thank you for your post. I’ve been following you on instagram for many years.
Cheers
Carla
Hi Carla! I've never pollinated one, but your grandmother is probably correct 🙂 And yes, it is a long process from flowering to fruiting. It will be an exercise in patience! 🙂
I have one in my garden currently blooming. I can't wait to taste the fruitt. I live in South Africa. In quite a dry climate so it's somewhat unusual. It's a very happy plant though.
It's absolutely delicious! Just make sure it's ripe before you taste it 🙂
At my work we have one blooming now. It gets plenty of water and nutrition. I live in Norway so this is quite unique. Its inside.
That's amazing!
I'm living in the UK and my Monstera started flowering indoors.
Wow! That's pretty uncommon! Congrats.
Hello. Just today Jan 04 2023, I noticed a large begining inflorescence near the top of my Monstera.☺️☺️☺️
Very cool Anthony! Is the plant indoors or outdoors?
My monstera is massive. Originally a houseplant, it was put outside almost 40 years ago, under a prunus plum. While it flowers and fruits, I have never managed to beat the bees to taste it. This summer, after a very wet year, one 'trunk' has seven flowers almost or just opening. Another 'trunk' has 3, another 4. Fingers crossed by a tasting sensation.
It is shaded from scorching afternoon sun, and frosts in winter.
Sounds amazing! I hope you get around to tasting it soon 🙂
@Raffaele, this is a great read! Thanks for putting all this info together. Our Monstera has just fruited for the first time and I’m thrilled.
@Pat, it sounds like you have a real gem on your hands!
Glad you enjoyed the post Emma 🙂
I have a large plant beneath my decking in Melbourne, Australia. It thrives although I have given it no tlc but it flowers and produces fruit regularly but I've never used the the fruit. I will now that I've learnt that they are edible. Thanks for the info!
Just make sure the fruit is ripe before eating it like I describe in the post 🙂
This is fascinating, I had no idea monstera could produce fruit. Thanks for educating me, there is always something to learn about plants.
You're very welcome Amy!