Monstera Borsigiana vs. Deliciosa, Which is Better?

Are you trying to choose between a Monstera Deliciosa and a Borsigiana plant for your home, tropical garden, or as a gift? Maybe you saw both names and wanted to know the difference, because why not? Monstera is one of the most popular houseplants. While their taxonomy (how scientists classify them) is identical and the way you take care of both types of Monstera is identical, they are a bit different when it comes to size, appearance, and origination.

The differences between Deliciosa and Borsigiana start with the size of the foliage with Deliciosa being much larger, then the growth speed with Borsigiana growing much faster, and some of the physical differences like the bumpy nodes and length of the internodes. Don’t stress if this sounds confusing, here’s everything you’ll want to know to decide which of these popular houseplants are right for your home, garden, a gift, or a commercial space like a hotel or office.

Aside from their size at maturity, it can be tricky to tell a “true” Deliciosa from the variation Borsigiana as both fenestrate and both can be variegated like the Thai Constellation and Albo. 

(Please note the information below is an average, the plants will vary based on species and growing conditions.)

While science has tested and confirmed the claim that Borsigiana and Deliciosa are genetically the same and that Borsigiana is now a synonym for the smaller variation, the way it grows and its characteristics are how to know which one is right for your space. 

For example, Monstera Deliciosa begins growing horizontally when it is young with shorter internodes (the stems between the nodes) leading to a wider spread. Borsigiana has longer internodes and begins climbing from a younger age. This means you’ll need a wider area and more space to move around the plant if you go with Deliciosa as it takes up more area than Borsigiana.

While Borsigiana is more compact, it does not have as many variegation styles as Deliciosa, so you’ll be limited on varieties of the white and cream coloring on the foliage. Aside from the foliage, if you found the perfect Monstera plant but there’s no label, there’s one easy way to tell them apart. Adult Borsigiana have smooth Geniculum (the joint on the stem that connects to the leaf and looks like a knee) while adult Deliciosa has wrinkled or ruffled Geniculum.

They’re both found natively from Mexico to Panama, and can reach 30 feet in height, so telling them apart can be tricky. The leaf size is a first telltale sign as Borsigiana has smaller leaves than Deliciosa, and Deliciosa’s fruits are roughly 8-14 in long, making them twice the size of a Borsigiana at 5-7 in. 

Now that you know how these two types of Monstera plants compare, here’s when Deliciosa or Borsigiana may be a better fit.

When you have a smaller room or outside space where the plant will need to grow upwards and the range for leaf spreading is minimal, Borsigiana is a better choice than Deliciosa as it is more compact and requires less room to grow. 

If you have large atrium spaces like a hotel lobby, a great room or sitting room in a home, or even a foyer, Monstera Deliciosa is better than Borsigiana as it will better fill the area adding a lush and tropical vibe bringing a large and relaxing bit of nature to the room. 

For tropical outdoor spaces both can be good options, it all depends on how much area you want to cover. If you have a large space and want your Monstera to be a showpiece, go with Deliciosa over Borsigiana. You’ll be able to enjoy stable variegations on larger foliage, and the multiple rows of fenestrations will wow people as they see it. 

If you are limited on space and want more of a stunning backdrop plant that grows up your home, a tree, or a fence in your garden, Borsigiana is better than Deliciosa as it is more compact and will be easier to control. The leaves are smaller so they’ll take up less space and work better to display a fountain, pond, or your garden.

While both types of Monstera plant require bright but indirect sunlight, Deliciosa is going to be better for indoor spaces like an office or a room with north facing windows as the variegation is more stable so you can enjoy the cream and white patterns compared to Borsigiana. Plants will create more chlorophyll when they need more light, and Borsigiana is more likely to lose its color patterns because of this in indoor spaces.

Now that you know which is right for your space, click here to see all of our Monstera plants on sale including both Deliciosa and Borsigiana.