Monstera Plants Hold Powerful Symbolism — Here’s What Yours Might Be Saying
Whilst Monstera plants are prized for their ornamental value, they’re also rich in symbolism and cultural significance. In Eastern traditions, Monstera plants have historically carried sentiments of respect, honoring elders, and longevity. In the language of flowers, monstera flowers represent grandiose plans, glad tidings, and deep relationships. Interestingly, thanks to their rapidly growing vines and aerial root systems, monstera plants may also symbolize suffocation in some cultures around the world.
Monstera Plant Symbolism
Key Takeaways – Monstera Plant Symbolism
Symbolism & Cultural Meanings
| 🌸 Floriography (Language of Flowers) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Symbol | Meaning | Description |
| 🕳️ | Resilience Through Adversity | The plant’s fenestrations (holes) represent overcoming challenges and emerging stronger, like weathering life’s storms |
| 🌱 | Personal Growth | Symbolizes continuous development and the journey of self-improvement through different life stages |
| 🔗 | Connection | Represents bonds with others and the interconnectedness of relationships in our lives |
| ☯️ Feng Shui Significance | ||
| Symbol | Meaning | Description |
| 💰 | Wealth & Prosperity | Large, broad leaves are believed to attract financial abundance and career success |
| 🌊 | Positive Energy Flow | The holes in leaves promote chi circulation, preventing stagnant energy in living spaces |
| 🏠 | Home Harmony | Brings balance and tranquility to domestic environments, especially in living rooms and bedrooms |
| 🧘 | Spiritual Growth | Supports meditation practices and personal enlightenment through its calming presence |
| 🌍 Cultural Significance | ||
| Symbol | Meaning | Description |
| 🏝️ | Tropical Paradise | Native to Central America, represents exotic beauty and connection to tropical landscapes |
| 🏛️ | Modern Design Icon | Symbol of contemporary aesthetics and minimalist interior design since the mid-20th century |
| 📱 | Social Media Fame | Represents the “plant parent” lifestyle and Instagram-worthy home decor trends |
| 💚 | Environmental Consciousness | Symbolizes sustainable living and the growing movement toward green, eco-friendly lifestyles |
| 🎨 | Artistic Inspiration | Iconic leaf shape appears in textiles, wallpapers, and art, representing creativity and natural beauty |
Folklore and Ancient Medicinal Uses
Long before Monstera deliciosa became such a popular houseplant, indigenous communities across Central America and the Caribbean recognized its healing potential. This “Swiss cheese plant” has a fascinating medicinal history that spans centuries.
Traditional Healing Applications:
- Arthritis Relief – Mexican traditional medicine has used Monstera to ease joint pain and inflammation for generations
- Snake Bite Treatment – In Martinique, healers prepared special remedies from Monstera roots as an antidote for venomous snake bites.
- Wound Healing – Indigenous peoples created poultices from the leaves to reduce pain, swelling, and promote healing of cuts and bruises
- Multi-Purpose Medicine – Traditional healers also used various parts of the plant to treat coughs, fevers, and infections
- Practical Uses – Beyond medicine, indigenous communities wove the plant’s strong fibers into baskets and ropes, showing their deep understanding of its properties.
A Word of Caution: While these traditional uses highlight Monstera’s cultural significance, it’s important to remember that the plant contains calcium oxalate crystals that can be toxic. Modern science hasn’t fully validated these historical applications, so this beautiful houseplant is best appreciated for its stunning foliage rather than any medicinal properties.
The Symbolism of Monstera Vines and Roots
Most types of Monstera plants have aerial root systems and a rapidly vining growth habit that makes it look like the plant is choking the trees or stakes upon which they grow. As a result, these plants are often symbolically associated with suffocation.
Monstera Fruits and Their Meanings
Like the breadfruit of the Monstera deliciosa, any plant that bears edible fruit can be symbolically associated with abundance and fertility.
Additionally, they produce white flowers, which can symbolize purity, innocence, virtue, sympathy, grief, and elegance.
Feng Shui and Monstera Plants
In feng shui, monstera plants represent growth, upward energy, and abundance. They are typically placed in the work or financial corners of a home’s Bagua map or in offices to attract the energy of professional and financial growth.
However, monstera plants can attract growth and energy in any corner of the Bagua map. So, they can be used to invigorate your family life, health, or romantic relationships, too.
However, it’s imperative to place a monstera plant where it has plenty of room to grow. Otherwise, this positive energy could become stifled, blocked, and a force of negativity.
Monstera Plants and Astrology
In the astrological world, Monstera plants are commonly associated with the zodiac star sign of Leo.
Monstera Plants in Popular Culture
Monstera plants, primarily their unique and easily recognizable fenestrated leaves, crop up all over the place in modern art, design, textiles, and decorating. They’re popularly used in wallpaper prints, Hawaiian shirts, and other tropical decorating motifs.
Monstera Plant Meaning FAQs:
What Is So Special About Monstera Plants?
Monstera plants have become one of the most popular houseplants because of their attractive, unique leaves and the fact that they are easy to grow.
Variegated monstera plants are also highly sought after for their odd leaves that feature patterns of white. Variegated monstera plants are rare and highly desired, making them very expensive.
Is It Good to Have Monstera Plants at Home?
Monstera plants are some of the most effective plants for removing indoor air pollution and replenishing the indoor oxygen in your home. This makes them a great choice of houseplant to grow inside your house.
Is Monstera a Lucky Plant?
If you can get your hands on a variegated monstera, you are probably a lucky person. However, these plants are not directly associated with luck.
In Eastern culture, monstera plants symbolize longevity, respect, and honor. In Western cultures, they represent suffocation because of their fast-growing vines and aerial roots. In feng shui, they can bring luck or growth in some regions of your life, such as work or money.
Have Fun Growing This Popular Houseplant!
Regardless of the symbolic meaning of this genus of plants, monstera plants are highly popular for cultivating indoors, incorporating into modern designs, and drawing energy into the corners of your home’s feng shui Bagua map. Just be sure to provide this climber with plenty of support, indirect sunlight, and moisture, and you’ll enjoy countless days of beauty, fun, and clean indoor air.
Andrew is the Editorial Director at Petal Republic. He holds a BSc degree in Plant Sciences and has trained professionally at leading floristry schools in London and Paris. In amongst overseeing a global editorial team, Andrew's a passionate content creator around all things flowers, floral design, gardening, and houseplants.