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Anthurium

Phonetic Spelling
an-THUR-ee-um
This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Evergreen tropical perennial shrub to 3', upright and multi-stemmed. Common houseplant Anthuriums are grown for their brightly colored flower spathes and their ornamental leaves. They need bright but indirect light.

Blooms in wild tropical areas in spring to summer; desired in interiors for long-lasting, pink to reddish inflorescence and erect, deep green leaves; spadix is at right angle to spathe and is twisted like a corkscrew in some species; used in interiorscapes as specimen or temporary flowering display. 

Prefers medium to high light, moist well-drained soil, and low to medium relative humidity. Too little light will cause the plant to bloom less and grow slowly; south or west-facing windows are best. Water when the soil is dry to the touch. High-phosphorus fertilizer will encourage more blooms as well as pruning away old spent blooms. Wipe down the leaves of indoor plants periodically to remove dust. No serious pest problems.

Quick ID Hints:

  • Spadix and pink to reddish spathe are at right angles to eachother
  • Leaves are leathery, with truncate to cordate base
  • Short stems develop as plant ages

 

VIDEO Created by Laura Barth for "Houseplants, Succulents, and Cacti", a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.   

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
A. scherzerianum
Tags:
#poisonous#houseplant#white flowers#shrub#red flowers#green flowers#yellow flowers#low light#bright light#interiorscape#waxy#spadix#spathe#shiny#herbaceous perennial#leathery#fantz#tropical feel#heart-shaped leaves#hsc#hsc-fl#perennial
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
A. scherzerianum
Tags:
#poisonous#houseplant#white flowers#shrub#red flowers#green flowers#yellow flowers#low light#bright light#interiorscape#waxy#spadix#spathe#shiny#herbaceous perennial#leathery#fantz#tropical feel#heart-shaped leaves#hsc#hsc-fl#perennial
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Anthurium
    Family:
    Araceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Mexico to Tropical America
    Dimensions:
    Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Herbaceous Perennial
    Houseplant
    Perennial
    Poisonous
    Habit/Form:
    Erect
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Loam (Silt)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Moist
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Berry
    Fruit Description:
    A globose berry.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Purple/Lavender
    Red/Burgundy
    Variegated
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Spadix
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Long-lasting
    Showy
    Flower Petals:
    Bracts
    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. The spadix is erect, cylindric, often tapering, sometimes twisted. The spathe is persistent and in right angle to spadix, an identifying feature for this genus. It is usually flat, sometimes hooded, erect, spreading or reflexed, margins not overlapping at base, and deeply veined. The scape is long, taller than foliage.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Leathery
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Leaf Shape:
    Auriculate
    Cordate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Lobed
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    The leaves of this genus are alternately arranged on a basal stem, simple, crowded, cordate to ovate or even auriculate to sagittate in shape, acute with a truncate to subcordate base, entire or palmately lobed, peltate, and are glossy and moderately coriaceous (leathery) in texture. The petiole is usually long and pulvinate at apex. They are palmately veined and may have lighter colored veins than the rest of the leaf surface.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Short, erect, sometimes elongate, climbing, with adventitious aerial roots.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Houseplants
    Problems:
    Contact Dermatitis
    Poisonous to Humans
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    High
    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.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Calcium oxalate crystals
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    Yes
    Poison Part:
    Bark
    Flowers
    Fruits
    Leaves
    Roots
    Seeds
    Stems