Family: Araceae
In the Hawaiian Islands, the risk of invasiveness of Monstera deliciosa may be minor to moderate due to limited seed set, but spread could occur by vegetative fragments in discarded garden waste or along streams. This climber may be locally aggressive and could poison animals or people if ingested. It has not been recorded as naturalized on any of the Hawaiian Islands to date.
High Risk Traits:
- Thrives and spreads in regions with tropical climates.
- Naturalized in Florida, Australia, New Zealand, and perhaps elsewhere (but no evidence in the Hawaiian Islands to date)
- An aggressive, nuisance weed in some locations, with concerns for potential environmental impacts.
- Unpalatable to browsing and grazing animals due to presence of calcium oxalate crystals
- Toxic to animals and people if ingested.
- Tolerates many soil types.
- Climbing and potentially smothering habit
- Shade tolerant (could invade intact native forests)
- May form dense cover in some locations.
- May reproduce by seed where pollinators are present.
- Spreads vegetatively by suckers, offshoots, or stem fragments
- Seeds, if produced, may be dispersed by frugivorous animals.
- Dispersed by stem fragments in discarded garden waste and along waterways.
- May tolerate repeated cutting or damage.
Low Risk Traits:
- In the Hawaiian Islands, a commonly cultivated ornamental plant with no evidence of naturalization to date.
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
- Reproductive barriers to self-fertilization may limit seed set.
- Specialized pollinator requirements may limit seed set.
- Reduced or absent seed production limits risk of long distance dispersal
- Herbicides may provide effective control if required.