Monstera deliciosa - Split-leaf-Philodendron, Mexican Breadfruit

I had no idea that they produced edible fruit!

Do all the Philodendrons produce edible fruit???

Meanie:

Yes, the fruit is very delicious, hence the species epithet, deliciosa.

Alexandramou:

No. Monstera is not a true Philodendron...even though it's in the same family (Araceae).

Are these what we call cheese plants ?

Palmate:

Yes, that's another common name for this plant.

We very rarely see them fruit here.

Rbtkew:

Even in the greenhouses at Kew?

Used to be very popular in the 60s not so now, I did not realize it fruited either.

Dottydaisy2:

It's a very widely grown landscape plant here. In some gardens it covers a huge area. At the San Diego Zoo this vine covers acres of space under trees. I've posted several pics in the past. :>)

Cool! I didn't know that, thanks D1! I have seen them as houseplants but never owned one. Maybe I'm getting tangled up in names...but I remember warnings not to let pets chew on philodendron leaves as they were supposed to be poisonous?

Lori:

You're welcome! :>)

All parts are poisonous...if ingested! (with the exception of the ripe fruit that is)

interesting dichotomy!

Lori:

It's very common in the plant kingdom to have trees/plants which have poisonous leaves, branches with edible fruit. Fruits in the Solanaceae (Nightshade) family are good examples.

don't eat green potatoes!! hehe

Lori:

Definitely don't want to do that...

Marguerite:

It's always a challenge to harvest the fruit before the pests attacks them...generally, here the ants get to them first. I have tasted the fruit...it has a very sweet pineapple flavor. I have a large one in my backyard which has been very neglected...and hasn't flowered or fruited since I've lived here in 7 years. It used to flower and fruit regularly before I moved here. A friend gave me this plant 20 years ago...it was a very sweet variety also. (every time I've moved I've take a large cutting).