[3] Growth morphologies for the genus Montipora include submassive, laminar, foliaceous, encrusting, and branching.

[4][5] It is not uncommon for a single Montipora colony to display more than one growth morphology.

[5] Healthy Montipora corals can be a variety of colors, including orange, brown, pink, green, blue, purple, yellow, grey, or tan.

[5] Coenosteum and corallite walls are porous, which can result in elaborate structures.

[8] Montipora corals are known to host endo- and ectoparasites such as Allopodion mirum and Xarifia extensa.