'Aurea' monstera guide

What it is

‘Aurea’ is a Monstera deliciosa with yellow variegation. The yellow comes in sections, streaks, and speckles, much like the white on an ‘Albo Variegata’. It comes from a natural mutation, so the pattern varies from leaf to leaf. It is rarer than ‘Albo Variegata’.

How to tell it apart

Plant	Leaves	The tell
‘Aurea’	Green with yellow sections and streaks	The variegation is butter yellow
‘Albo Variegata’ monstera	Green with bright white sections	The variegation is pure white
‘Thai Constellation’ monstera	Green with cream speckles	Even cream speckles, not big sections

‘Marmorata’ is a name some sellers use for yellow-variegated monstera too. The two are often mixed up.

Care differences

The yellow parts make some food, more than white tissue does. ‘Aurea’ tends to be a little sturdier than ‘Albo Variegata’. It still needs bright indirect light to keep the yellow and keep growing.

Yellow sections can fade to cream or green in low light. Hot sun scorches them. Keep it bright but out of direct afternoon sun.

Reverting

Check the stem for yellow streaks. An all-green stem will grow all-green leaves. Cut it back to a node with yellow on the stem to bring back the color.

Grow it from a cutting

Take cuttings only from stems with yellow at the node. Root them in damp sphagnum moss or water. Roots take four to eight weeks.

Buying it

‘Aurea’ is a collector plant, sold at specialty shops and online, often for a high price. Look for yellow at the node of each cutting or stem. A plant with only one yellow leaf and a green stem may not keep the color. Ask whether it is rooted.