Zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) crystals show unconventionally selective nucleation and oriented growth on a patterned self-assembled monolayer (SAM) surface. The growth selectivity and crystal orientation are also affected by the odd-even effect for SAMs. The oriented growth of the ZIF-8 crystals is found to result from fast crystallization of the nuclei triggered by the specific SAM surfaces.