Anthurium: Country Or Region Of Origin
Mexico to Tropical America
Plant Profile: Anthurium
Taxonomy: AnthuriumNames
Anthurium, Flamingo Flower, Flamingo Lily, Tailflower
Phonetic Spelling:an-THUR-ee-um
Genus:Anthurium
Species:
Family:Araceae
This evergreen tropical perennial shrub can reach heights of up to 3 feet and features an upright, multi-stemmed growth habit. Commonly found as a houseplant, Anthuriums are prized for their vibrant flower spathes and attractive foliage. They thrive in bright, indirect light.
In their natural tropical habitats, these plants bloom from spring to summer, making them a popular choice for indoor spaces due to their long-lasting pink to reddish flowers and lush, deep green leaves. The spadix, which is positioned at a right angle to the spathe, may exhibit a corkscrew twist in certain species. Anthuriums are often utilized in interior design as striking specimens or for temporary floral displays.
These plants prefer medium to high light conditions, consistently moist soil, and low to medium humidity levels. Fortunately, they are not typically affected by serious pest issues.
Quick Identification Tips:
Tags
#red
#white
#poisonous
#houseplant
#white flowers
#green
#shrub
#red flowers
#green flowers
#yellow flowers
#low light
#bright light
#interiorscape
#waxy
#spadix
#spathe
#shiny
#interior
#heart-shaped
#leathery
#fantz
#tropical feel
Similar Plants
Anthurium is often confused with:
Anthurium Feature Summary
Attributes
Mexico to Tropical America
Fruit
A globose berry.
Berry
Flowers
The flowers are small, in a slender (white, green, or yellow) spadix with a spathe below which may be shiny red, white, or other colors. Spathes are heart-shaped and waxy. A spadix, erect, cylindric, often tapering, sometimes twisted; spathe persistent, in right angle to spadix, usually flat, sometimes hooded, erect, spreading or reflexed, margins not overlapping at base, colorful, usually pink to red; scape long, taller than foliage.
White
Gold/Yellow
Red/Burgundy
Green
Spadix
Leaves
This perennial herb has dark green, heart-shaped, and leathery leaves. Alternate, simple, crowded, cordate to lanceolate, acute, truncate to subcordate base, entire or palmately lobed, peltate, moderately coriaceous; petiole usually long, pulvinate at apex.
Green
Simple
Alternate
Cordate
Lanceolate
Lobed
Leathery
Stem
Short, erect, sometimes elongate, climbing, with adventitious aerial roots.
Poisonous to Humans
TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN. CAUSES SEVERE PAIN IN THE MOUTH IF EATEN! SKIN IRRITATION MINOR OR LASTING ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES. Poisonous through dermatitis, ingestion, and eye irritant. (Poisonous parts: All parts). Symptoms may include: Irritation of mouth and digestive symptoms if ingested; irritation of skin and eyes following contact with sap.
Calcium oxalate crystals
High
Seeds
Leaves
Stems
Flowers
Bark
Fruits
Roots
Whole Plant Traits
Herbaceous Perennial
Poisonous
Houseplant
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Moist
Landscape
Houseplants
Poisonous to Humans
Contact Dermatitis
Anthurium Image Gallery
Anthurium Attributes
Anthurium Fruit
Anthurium: Fruit Description
A globose berry.
Anthurium: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Anthurium Flowers
Anthurium: Flower Description
The flowers are small, in a slender (white, green, or yellow) spadix with a spathe below which may be shiny red, white, or other colors. Spathes are heart-shaped and waxy. A spadix, erect, cylindric, often tapering, sometimes twisted; spathe persistent, in right angle to spadix, usually flat, sometimes hooded, erect, spreading or reflexed, margins not overlapping at base, colorful, usually pink to red; scape long, taller than foliage.
Anthurium: Flower Color
Gold/Yellow
Green
Red/Burgundy
White
Anthurium: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Anthurium Leaves
Anthurium: Leaf Description
This perennial herb has dark green, heart-shaped, and leathery leaves. Alternate, simple, crowded, cordate to lanceolate, acute, truncate to subcordate base, entire or palmately lobed, peltate, moderately coriaceous; petiole usually long, pulvinate at apex.
Anthurium: Leaf Color
Green
Anthurium: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Anthurium: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Anthurium: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Anthurium: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Anthurium: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Anthurium: Leaf Feel
Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy
Anthurium Stem
Anthurium: Stem Description
Short, erect, sometimes elongate, climbing, with adventitious aerial roots.
Anthurium: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Anthurium Poisonous to Humans
Anthurium: Poison Symptoms
TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN. CAUSES SEVERE PAIN IN THE MOUTH IF EATEN! SKIN IRRITATION MINOR OR LASTING ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES. Poisonous through dermatitis, ingestion, and eye irritant. (Poisonous parts: All parts). Symptoms may include: Irritation of mouth and digestive symptoms if ingested; irritation of skin and eyes following contact with sap.
Anthurium: Poison Toxic Principle
Calcium oxalate crystals
Anthurium: Poison Severity
High
Low
Medium
Anthurium: Causes Contact Dermatitis
No
Yes
Anthurium: Poison Part
Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems
Anthurium Whole Plant Traits
Anthurium: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Anthurium Cultural Conditions
Anthurium: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Anthurium: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Anthurium Landscape
Anthurium: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Anthurium: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
