Monstera Deliciosa Fruit: Is it Safe, Healthy, and Delicious?

An Introduction to the Exotic Monstera Deliciosa Fruit

The monstera deliciosa plant, also known as the Swiss cheese plant, is a striking tropical species admired for its large, glossy leaves full of signature holes and fenestrations. But beyond its ornate foliage, the monstera deliciosa is actually a fruit-bearing plant. When allowed to mature and climb, it produces an unusual and exotic fruit that has sparked curiosity and intrigue across the internet.

The monstera deliciosa fruit is a rare sight, even among houseplant enthusiasts that care for the plant indoors. That's because the plant needs very specific conditions to set blooms and ultimately bear the ripe monstera deliciosa fruits. But when it does fruit, the reward is a tantalizing tropical treat straight out of the jungle.

Keep reading to learn everything about the intriguing monstera deliciosa fruit, including how it forms, when it ripens, what it tastes like, whether it's actually safe to eat, and how you may be able to try it yourself one day.

The Botanical Background

The monstera deliciosa is native to the tropical forests of southern Mexico and Panama. It's part of the Araceae family, commonly known as aroids. Other familiar members of this plant group include calla lilies, anthurium, and philodendron.

In the wild, monstera deliciosa vines climb up tree trunks and branches, anchoring with aerial roots to heights of 66 feet or more. The leaves grow enormous, sometimes spanning over two feet long, in order to collect as much sun as possible on the dark forest floor.

As a climbing, vining plant, the monstera requires vertical support to show its full potential in size and fruiting capabilities. Indoors, it's limited by the heights of homes and rooms. Outdoors in its native habitat with natural vertical supports, the monstera vines continue reaching new heights as they mature over many years.

The Flower and Pollination Process

If a monstera deliciosa plant is allowed to climb and mature over several years, reaching at least 10-15 feet tall, it may eventually produce an inflorescence, or flower spike. The monstera's flowers are insignificant visually, but their pollination is vital to fruit production.

The inflorescence emerges from the axil where a leaf meets the main stem. It consists of a fleshy pale green spathe around 10 inches long with a tail-like extension, enveloping a cream-colored spike called a spadix. The actual monstera flowers are tiny and wind-pollinated, densely packed on the spadix.

For pollination and fruiting to occur, the male and female flowers must receive pollen from another genetically different monstera plant. Indoors, hand pollination using a small brush between two plants may be necessary since wind pollination doesn't occur inside.

Fruit Development

After successful pollination, the monstera's fruits start developing. Each spadix typically produces around 20 individual oval fruits. They develop over several months, initially forming hard and pale, then filling out spherical and green.

When immature, the monstera fruit is entirely encased within the fleshy spathe. But as the fruit ripens fully, the pale green spathe dries up and falls off, exposing the ripe exotic fruit inside for easy harvesting.

The Ripening Process

The monstera deliciosa fruit turns from a green to a cream color when ripe. It also splits open at one end, exposing the edible flesh inside. This natural dehiscence of the fruit signals its ripening process.

A ripe monstera fruit emits an enticing tropical aroma, reminiscent of pineapple and banana. The fleshy body of the fruit is cream-colored with a jelly-like seeded center. Texture-wise, it's similar to an ear of corn, with delicate pulled-apart segments.

Monstera fruits take an exceptionally long time to reach ripeness. The process usually begins in spring, around 12-14 months after pollination occurred. The ripening process continues slowly over several weeks into summer.

Patience is required when waiting for monstera fruit. But luckily, each spadix produces multiple fruits that don't all mature simultaneously. So the ripening process extends over a longer harvest period.

The Flavor and Taste

The intriguing monstera deliciosa fruit lives up to its name - deliciosa means delicious in Latin. Its flavor has been described as a tropical blend of juicy pineapple, banana, mango and citrus fruits.

The ripened flesh is moderately sweet with a pleasant tartness. Flavor-wise, it surpasses popular tropical fruits like pineapple and mango due to its more complex and dynamic taste.

Texturally, the flesh is soft, delicate and somewhat gelatinous, comparable to ripe plantain or custard apple. It offers an exceptionally smooth, creamy mouthfeel when eaten fresh off the plant.

Each monstera fruit contains numerous edible seeds, adding a nutty, crispy element. They can be eaten along with the fruit's flesh or spat out if preferred.

Are Monstera Fruits Edible?

The monstera deliciosa fruit is entirely edible and safe to eat when fully ripe. Green, unripe monstera fruit is toxic and contains insoluble calcium oxalates - the same irritants found in its stems and leaves.

Foraging wild plants can also pose risks. Make sure the plant is positively identified as monstera deliciosa before ingesting its fruit. Other ornamental aroids like philodendrons and pothos are toxic.

Never eat the stem, leaves or unripe fruit of the monstera plant since it's not designed for human consumption. Only the ripe fruit is safe and considered a gourmet delicacy in the tropics.

Where to Find Monstera Fruits

Monstera deliciosa fruits are seldom seen in home collections since most houseplants are too small and young to fruit. You're highly unlikely to find them at florists, grocery stores or farmers markets either.

Your best chance is to find a mature monstera plant growing tall up a tree trunk in a conservatory or botanic garden, especially one focused on tropical plants. Some large nurseries in Hawaii may produce and sell fruits occasionally too.

Traveling in tropical regions increases your odds. Stumbling upon street vendors selling monstera fruits can happen in parts of Mexico, Central and South America where monsteras grow natively.

Getting Your Monstera to Fruit

Want to try growing your own monstera deliciosa fruits? Under home conditions, it requires an established, mature plant that has grown vertically 10-15 feet or more on a sturdy support.

Ensure temperatures stay consistently warm year-round, between 70-85F. High humidity is also essential, preferably 60% or higher. Large, sunny southern windows and indoor grow rooms/greenhouses create good fruiting environments.

Supplement with an orchid fertilizer monthly while actively growing. Prune occasionally to encourage bushier growth. Avoid repotting until absolutely necessary to maintain undisturbed root growth.

Pollinating the flowers by hand with a small brush will be necessary for fruit production indoors. It may take over 10 years before a homegrown monstera is old enough to finally bear fruit.

Monstera Deliciosa Fruit FAQs

Is monstera fruit poisonous?

Only the unripe green monstera fruit is poisonous due to containing irritating calcium oxalate crystals. Fully ripe cream-colored monstera fruit is entirely edible and delicious.

What does monstera fruit taste like?

Ripe monstera fruit tastes like a tropical blend of pineapple, mango, banana, and citrus fruits. It has a sweet, tart, juicy tropical flavor with a smooth, creamy texture.

Can you eat monstera seeds?

Yes, the seeds within the ripe monstera fruit are edible. They have a mildly nutty, crispy texture and add an interesting contrast to the soft, creamy fruit flesh.

How long does monstera fruit take to ripen?

Monstera fruits take an exceptionally long time to ripen - around 12-14 months typically. The fruits don't all ripen simultaneously either, so the harvest period can extend over several weeks.

What does monstera fruit smell like?

A ripe monstera fruit has a fruity tropical aroma reminiscent of pineapple and banana. The fragrance signals it's ready for eating.

Can you buy monstera fruit?

Monstera fruits are nearly impossible to find for sale. Your best bets are stumbling upon them at a tropical botanical garden, conservatory or nursery. Some street vendors may sell them in tropical regions too.

How big is monstera fruit?

Individual monstera fruits are around 3-4 inches long and 2 inches wide when ripe. Their oval shape resembles an ear of corn with pulled-apart segments exposing the white flesh inside.

Why is my monstera not fruiting?

Monsteras require very specific conditions to fruit. They need to grow over 10 feet tall on a support, stay warm year-round, and receive hand pollination. Even large plants may not fruit due to inadequate conditions.

Are monstera easy to grow?

Regular monstera houseplants are easy to grow indoors. But getting them to fruit is challenging and takes over 10 years. Providing optimal warm temperatures, humidity, light levels and vertical support improves the chances.

The Rewarding Rare Tropical Treat

The monstera deliciosa fruit ultimately offers a unique treat for adventurous tropical plant lovers. Despite the long wait and precise growing requirements, being able to harvest ripened monstera fruits straight from the vine provides an exciting and rewarding experience.

Adding this fascinating fruit to your bucket list gives you another reason to appreciate the versatility and gifts of the majestic monstera deliciosa plant.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.