Tailflower Anthurium
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- an-THUR-ee-um
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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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:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- A. scherzerianum
- Tags:
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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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Houseplant
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
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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
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Description:
- A globose berry.
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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.
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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 pinnately veined and may have lighter colored veins than the rest of the leaf surface.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Short, erect, sometimes elongate, climbing, with adventitious aerial roots.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Poisonous to Humans
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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
