Anthurium (an-THUR-ee-um) is a genus of about 1,000 species that hail from Central and South America as well as the Caribbean. They are Aroids that are collected for their tropical leaves and, for some species, their showy flowers, which can bloom year round indoors if given the right conditions.
What most people would call the "flower" on an Anthurium is actually a structure made of a spathe, which is actually a modified leaf, and the spadix, the cone-shaped protrusion in the center of the spathe. If you look very closely, you’ll see all sorts of tiny dots on the spadix…THOSE are the flowers! And after they get pollenated all those little nodes become seeds.
A photo of an Anthurium lucens spadix with flowers that have been pollenated and are in the process of developing seeds.
Varieties and Care
andraeanum
This is the "Flamingo Flower", grown for its showy flowers, that has been hybridized over the years into many different shapes, colors and sizes. It is the most common species, but there are endless varieties to choose from. These are also easy to grow and when given the right conditions can be in bloom much of the year.
| Anthurium andraeanum Care |
|---|
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Light | Bright, indirect light. Needs more light to bloom reliably. |
| Temperature | 65°F – 80°F |
| Water | Top inch of soil should be dry between watering. Should need water weekly. |
hookeri
Anthurium hookeri belongs to the Pachyneurium section of Anthuriums which grow in a rosette pattern, where leaves emerge from a central point, mimicking a bird’s nest which gives them the name "Birds Nest Anthurium". This plant makes a statement in any home and does very well here at the coast. It is also hardy outside here with light protection.
| Anthurium hookeri Care |
|---|
| Difficulty | Easy here at the coast, Intermediate in warmer/drier areas. |
| Light | Bright, indirect; can tolerate lower light but grows slower. |
| Temperature | 65°F – 85°F |
| Water | Top 1–2 inches of soil should dry between watering. Likes consistent moisture, but never soggy mix. |
crystallinum
Crystallinum has heart-shaped, velvety leaves with prominent white veins. Its pristine look requires high humidity. Here at the coast it is fairly good, though this plant enjoys up to 85%. Inland, supplemental humidity would be required and managing temperature would be important as well. Crystallinum likes a chunky orchid bark mix and does best climbing up a pole. This plant’s leaves are soft to the touch, but they’re also very delicate and fondling them can cause browning.
| Anthurium crystallinum Care |
|---|
| Difficulty | Difficult |
| Light | Bright, indirect light but never direct sun as it burns easily. |
| Temperature | 65°F – 80°F (this grows at low elevations in Central and South America where temperatures typically don’t go below 70°F |
| Water | Keep consistently moist; do not let dry out completely. Harder tap water or lower humidity can cause leaf browning. |
plowmanii
Anthurium plowmanii is significantly more drought-tolerant than most other anthuriums. It belongs to the Pachyneurium section of Anthuriums which grow in a rosette pattern, where leaves emerge from a central point, mimicking a bird’s nest which gives them the name "Birds Nest Anthurium", though hookeri, plowmanii’s sibling, is most commonly known by that name.
| Anthurium plowmanii Care |
|---|
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Light | Bright, indirect; tolerates some morning sun and lower light. |
| Temperature | 65°F – 80°F |
| Water | Allow top 1–2 inches (or half the soil) to dry between watering. |
The Planted Parlour’s Tips and Tricks for Success!
- Get the light right…Direct sunlight can scorch any of these Anthuriums, though hookeri and some of the thicker leafed species can be acclimated into short periods of softer sunlight. But for those that are grown for the flowers the trick is to give them as bright light as you possibly can…but not direct sun. Low light for the flowering types like Anthurium andraeanum can lead to fewer blooms and leggy growth.
- Use barkAnthuriums are semi-epiphytic and need air around their roots. Use orchid bark for their potting medium. For climbing ones, give them a pole.
- Quality water is importantIf you find you’re getting brown tips or edges on your Anthuriums and using tap water it is possibly due to the quality of your water. These plants can be sensitive to harder water. Use distilled water if you’re having issues with this. We use Grover Beach municipal water and have no problems with most Anthuriums.
Learn More…
Certain bees, ones that happen to be quite colorful and shiny, collect fragrances in pouches on their legs from specific flowers. These fragrances, or pheromones, are part of the bees’ mating ritual. As these bees collect the pheromones they also pollinate the flowers. These bees are called Euglossine bees but they’re commonly called "Orchid Bees", as they have a unique connection with Ophrys orchids where the orchid looks nearly identical to the female of the bee species, making the bee think it can mate with it in order to get pollinated. The orchid doesn’t have the pheromone and tricked the bee into pollinating it. Anthuriums are much kinder to the Euglossine bees as they do give them the pheromones and are pollinated as a reward.
