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blooming plant of the month
anthurium
Photo: Anthura B.V.
Oilcloth flower, Painter’s palette
Anthurium andraeanum ‘Dakota’
Flamingo flower, Tail flower,
Oilcloth flower, Painter’s palette
BOTANICAL NAME
Anthurium andraeanum
(an-THOO-ree-um on-dray-AH-num)
COMMON NAMES
Flamingo flower, Tail flower,
fun facts
WHAT’S IN A NAME The genus name
“Anthurium” is from the Greek “anthos”
(flower) and “oura” (tail), referring to the
slender tail-like spadix that protrudes from
the spathe. The specific epithet (species
name) “andraeanum” was given in honor of
Edouard Francis André, a French botanist,
horticulturist, horticulture professor and
editor, and landscape architect, who collected the species in Colombia in 1875.
FAMILY MATTERS Anthuriums are members
of the Araceae (arum/aroid) family. Close relatives include callas (Zantedeschia), peace
lilies (Spathiphyllum), Chinese evergreens
(Aglaonema), elephant’s-ear plants (Caladium
and Alocasia), dumb cane (Dieffenbachia),
arrowhead (Nephthytis/Syngonium), pothos
(Epipremnum) and Philodendrons.
HOME SWEET HOME All species of
Anthuriums are native to the tropical rain
forests of Central and South America, with
A. andraeanum indigenous to Colombia.
in-store and consumer care
LIGHT These plants require moderate to
bright indirect light (moderate in summer,
bright in winter). Shield these plants from
direct sunlight.
WATER In spring and summer months,
DESCRIPTION
Anthurium “blooms,” which are actually
colored waxy leaf bracts called spathes,
are essentially flat and cordate (heart
shaped), often with a puckered or ruched
texture and either glossy or matte surfaces. Arising from the notched apex of
each spathe is a fingerlike protrusion
called a spadix. It is the “bumps” on the
spadices that are the actual flowers.
Leaves range in shape from cordate
(heart) to sagittate (arrowhead) and are
most often glossy and dark green; some
species (e.g., A. crystallinum), however,
have leaves with white or silvery veinlike patterns.
water Anthuriums frequently with nonchlorinated water, keeping soil consistently
lightly moist. During fall and winter
months, water less frequently, but do not
allow soil to dry out.
TEMPERATURE Anthuriums are tropical plants
and, therefore, prefer average to warm interior environments, 65 F and 80 F. They grow
best when there is little difference between
daytime and nighttime temperatures. During
winter dormancy periods, they prefer lower
temperatures—60 F to 65 F.
HUMIDITY These plants also prefer moderate to high humidity levels, so mist leaves
frequently with lukewarm water, place pots
on a pebble tray or place a humidifier in
the room.
ETHYLENE SENSITIVITY Low; Anthuriums are
fairly resistant to the effects of ethylene gas.
FERTILIZER From spring through late summer, feed potted Anthuriums every two to
four weeks with a high-phosphorous plant
food. In the fall and winter, feed every six
weeks with a balanced fertilizer. Newly
purchased plants often have time-release
fertilizer in the pot and need no feeding
until the plant is repotted.
SOIL Anthuriums prefer loose, peaty, humusrich soil, like African violet potting mix.
Super Floral Retailing has created this page
for the education of store-level employees.
To download a reprintable PDF, please go
to www.superfloralretailing.com and select
“Current Issue.”
COLORS
Spathe colors include burgundy, red, hot
pink, pink, orange, salmon , brown, purple, green, cream and white. Bicolors
and multicolors (called obake [oh-BAWkee]), one hue of which is always green,
also are available.
DECORATIVE LIFE
In an ideal environment and with proper
care, Anthurium plants can last for years,
and many varieties will bloom almost
continuously, taking a break only during
the winter months. Each inflorescence
can last up to eight weeks.
AVAILABILITY
Potted Anthuriums are generally available
year-round, depending on the grower.
GROOMING Cut off any colored spathes and
leaves as they fade. To keep leaves glossy
and free of pests, wipe them every few
weeks with a damp cloth, or rinse them
with warm water.
REPOTTING Repot Anthuriums every two
years, in the spring, shifting plants to slightly larger pots each time (see “Soil,” below
left). Place plants so that the crowns sit just
above the soil surface. If roots show atop
the soil, cover them with moss or a light
sprinkling of potting mix. If a plant has produced new crowns, separate them from the
main plant when repotting, and plant them
separately into smaller pots.
TOXICITY Anthurium blooms and leaves
contain oxalic acid crystals and several
toxic proteins that, if ingested, can cause
severe mouth burning or skin irritation, so
keep these plants out of the reach of children and pets.
challenges
PESTS Aphids and scale insects are the most
common. Treat infested plants with insecticidal soap.
DISEASES If Anthurium plants are kept too
moist and cool, Botrytis (gray mold) and
root rot can develop.
(Continued on Page 22)
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blooming plant of the month
Photos: Anthura B.V.
(Continued from Page 20)
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‘Alabama Pink’
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Some information provided by:
Botanica, by R.G. Turner Jr. and Ernie Wasson
Complete Houseplant Survival Manual, The
by Barbara Pleasant
Chain of Life Network®, www.chainoflifenetwork.org
Dictionary of Plant Names, by Allen J. Coombes
Hortus Third, by Liberty Hyde Bailey and Ethel Zoe Bailey
Houseplant Encyclopedia, The
by Ingrid Jantra and Ursula Krüger
House Plant Expert, The, by Dr. D.G. Hessayon
Stearn’s Dictionary of Plant Names for Gardeners
by William T. Stern
‘Sumi’
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