How Monstera Albo Variegata Got Its Name & More

Monstera Albo, officially known as Monstera Deliciosa Albo Variegata, gets its name from the Latin word “albus” which means white and “variegata” a form of “variegatus” that means “made of multiple colors, stripes, and spots” because of its signature white and green leaves. 

The “Deliciosa” is also Latin and has a Spanish origin as it grows in Central and South America and means “delicious” or “delightful”. This part of the name is a reference to the fruits that taste like a blend of pineapple, coconut, mango, and other tropical fruits.

• Monstera - The genus is based on the Latin word “Monstrum” meaning “monstrous” and is a reference to the massive leaves with fenestration and height the plant can grow to.

• Deliciosa - Has a root in both Latin and Spanish and means delicious which is a reference to the taste of the fruits that grow on the plant.

• Albo - Comes from the Latin word “Albus” and is a reference to the white and cream colored variegation (coloring).

• Variegata - Is a reference to the Latin word “Variegatus” and refers to the multiple colors of the foliage.

The white foliage is a naturally occurring genetic mutation unlike the Elastica Ruby which is a Ficus that was cultivated, or certain types of Philodendron that get chemical boosts to enhance their colors.

The white coloring is caused by a lack of chlorophyll, so they do not help the plant photosynthesize or get food. This is one of the reasons the white parts may brown and die, so don’t panic, it does not mean that your Monstera Albo is unhealthy. It just has unique leaves like all Monstera plants do, and it may even fenestrate (get the signature holes and slits that give it a tropical look).

Pro-tip: Monstera Albo’s signature is a half-white and half-green leaf divided down the middle and is called a “half moon” as the half white section resembles a half moon.

When the leaves turn brown it is ok to trim them with clean and sharp shears. By doing this your plant will be able to focus energy on the green sections so it can focus on its own health and growing. The white leaves are stunning and what makes this houseplant a rare species, but they also impact the growing cycles.

While Monstera Albo is a type of Deliciosa, the white variegation makes it grow more slowly than its solid green counterparts because the plant cannot produce food through the entire leaf. 

A benefit is the slower growth makes Monstera Albo easier to keep indoors as it remains more compact and smaller for a longer period of time. This is why it is a perfect houseplant for someone that wants to maintain the size and shape vs. having to trim more often or relocate the plant. 

If you want a full and large Monstera Albo, the leaves will grow to their full potential between 8 inches to one foot with the right atmosphere of high humidity, bright but indirect sunlight, a coco pole or other surface to climb, and a well draining potting mix. 

Fun fact: If you move your Monstera Albo outdoors and live in the right climate, the leaves can reach up to 3 feet outside.

While Monstera Albo is similar to Monstera Thai Constellation as both have white and green leaves, there’s a few differences to help you tell them apart. 

For starters, the Thai Constellation can have foliage reaching 2 to 3 feet indoors and reach a height up to 15 feet tall compared to the 8 inches to 1 foot of the Albo’s leaves and 6 to 10 foot height. The Thai Constellation grows larger and wider while Albo stays more compact and centralized inside. Outside is a different story where Monstera Thai Constellation has roughly the same capacity while Monstera Albo can more than double in height.

Besides their size and the speed at which they grow, the easiest way to tell the Monstera Albo and Thai Constellation apart is the variegation. The Thai Constellation has more of a speckled pattern and will appear on all leaves while Albo looks more like a piece of marble with larger swaths of white and cream. 

Both plants need regular pruning if you want to keep them in the 3 to 5 foot range, and both can use water propagation for new plants. 

Fun fact: Monstera Albo can grow solid green leaves if there isn’t enough sunlight where Thai Constellation will have some form of white and cream colored specs on every leaf. If you see any solid green leaves, the Monstera is likely an Albo and not a Thai Constellation.

Monstrera Albo is a rare tropical houseplant because of its naturally occurring genetic mutation that gives it white and cream marbling giving it the Albo and Variegata in its name. If grown outdoors and/or in the right conditions, it can even flower and produce the fruit that gives it the deliciosa in its name. The word Monstera is a reference to the Genus and a reference to the size of the foliage and plant, as well as the unique fenestrations.