Guide to Differentiating Monstera Large Form vs Small Form

As a preface to the guide, it's important to know the cultivation history of Monstera deliciosa large form & small form variegata. Monstera deliciosa small form albos have been in cultivation for years through stem propagation and more recently tissue culturing primarily out of Japan, Netherlands & Thailand. They are far more common in the rare plant world because they have existed for longer, and the supply has continued to grow.

Monstera deliciosa large forms of the normal variety are typically grown from seed. There is only one instance in which a large form variegata has been mass produced, and that is the famoused Thai Constellation having been tissue cultured in Southeast Asia. As for all other variegata types, they truly represent scarcity.

Nurserys will grow hundreds of thousand seedlings at a time, and of this batch, only a few might be variegated. I once asked a grower if they can estimate the ratio, he explained for approximately 300,000 grown seeds, about 10 will be variegated. Of that few, an even smaller percentage will hold variegation into maturity or even be considered high color.

This goes to show you how rare large form variegata are. Always consult with experienced growers of Monstera deliciosa large form to help with differentiation.

• Leaf size does not matter
• Best indicator is node spacing on the stem
• Crawlers vs Climbers
• Leaf shape can sometimes be an indicator Monstera albo

Leaf size does not matter

Both large form & small form can have large leaf sizes. This often confuses sellers who otherwise may not know.

Best indicator is node spacing on the stem

Large forms have close internodal spacing, even when matured they are tight. Small forms are leggier, with multiple inches between nodes due to their growth habits.

See the striking differences in node spacing between Monstera deliciosa large form & small form.

Crawlers vs Climbers

Large forms naturally crawl horizontally into the ground. Small forms exclusively grow vertical and must climb. Note that while it is possible for large forms to climb, the node spacing is drastically tighter by comparison.

Leaf shape can sometimes be an indicator

Large forms typically have rounder, somewhat heart-shaped leaves. Small forms typically have foliage with an oval shape. This is not in my experience the cleanest way to identify since at times there small forms can have similarly shaped leaves, but in totality, it can be another checked box in determining if a Monstera deliciosa is a large form.

Monstera albo

Fellow enthusiast most often ask if Monstera albos are large forms. 99% shown to me are small forms. Sellers confuse large leaves meaning large forms, which is not true. In fact, albo is the rarest variegation among large forms. Typically they become minty with age and lose their albo. Refer to our article on Monstera albo is the Gateway to Variegated Plants for more information.

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