Jungle FEVER

MAKE THE MOST OF THE MONSTERA REVIVAL

I never knew until a few days ago that the ubiquitous monstera – also known as the fruit salad plant and the Swiss cheese plant – belonged to a family called aroids.

Frankly, I’d rather be called a Swiss cheese plant than something reminiscent of steroids and adenoids.

An aroid, Auntie Google told me after I had convinced her I wasn’t searching ‘android’, is anyone of various perennial herbs in the Araceae family, having tiny flowers crowded in a spadix that is subtended by a spathe. Spadix and spathe.

Even worse. But no matter what I think of the names associated with these plants, there’s no denying they are flavour of the month, enjoying a revival of the 1970s jungle aesthetic.

Back then, everyone had a fruit salad plant in their flat. Now, everyone has one on their phone case. There are statement wallpapers, block mounted artworks, duvets and cushion covers. Who would have thought?