Cultivar guide · Monstera epipremnoides
Monstera Esqueleto
Very large, paper-thin leaves with dramatic elongated fenestrations that take up most of the leaf surface — giving the "skeletal" appearance the name describes. Leaves grow to 18+ inches long in optimal conditions.
Family
Araceae
Classification
species
Mature size
5–7 ft tall on a moss pole; leaves up to 24 inches long at maturity
Pet safety
toxic to cats and dogs
Care at a glance
- Light
- Bright indirect light — needed to develop the dramatic fenestrations
- Water
- Water when top 2 inches of soil are dry; uses chunky aroid mix to prevent rot
- Humidity
- 60% or higher
- Temperature
- 65–85°F (18–29°C)
How to tell it apart from look-alikes
Often confused with Monstera adansonii (which has smaller, denser leaves with rounded holes) and Monstera epipremnoides (which is the same species — "Esqueleto" is the trade name for M. epipremnoides).
Pet safety: Monstera Esqueleto is toxic to cats and dogs per the ASPCA.
Botanical reference: Kew Plants of the World Online — Monstera epipremnoides
For full care of the parent species, see the Monstera care guide.