Today, Anthuriums are still very popular not just as houseplants, but also in the cut flower industry. However, commercial production in Trinidad started to decline by the mid 1990s, again hit by bacterial blight and bacterial leaf spot (…) diseases.” Just as Jamaica was flourishing, it too was hit by bacterial blight disease, which allowed and Trinidad and Tobago to expand its production, soon making the largest supplier to the USA through the late 1980s and 1990s. “Jamaica became the largest exporter into the US in the 1980’s, which coincided with the decline of the anthurium industry in Hawaii triggered by the bacterial blight disease (…). It’s a commercially significant plant in various areas, but as described by the University of the West Indies, it has been a bumpy ride: They’re mostly epiphytes, meaning they grow on and climb other plants (like trees) in a non-parasitic manner. (Other epiphytes you might be familiar with as houseplants include string of turtles, heart Hoyas, air plants, arrowhead plants, and Christmas cacti.) Cultural significance and usesĪnthurium has been commercially grown since at least the start of the 20th century, so it has quite a history behind it. In its natural habitat, Anthurium andraeanum can be found in tropical forests, which are characterized by their limited light and high humidity. It’s only in this country and Ecuador that the plant is naturally found, although it’s also an invasive species in other regions, including the Caribbean. This name refers to the horticulturists who first described it, with André having collected it in Colombia in 1876. There is, however, an “original” plant: Anthurium andraeanum Linden ex André. Scientifically, these hybrids are collectively referred to as Anthurium andraeanum (Hort.). They’re man-made hybrids produced through crossing different types of Anthuriums. Obviously, the Anthuriums you’ll find in your local plant store don’t technically have a natural habitat. Naturally, Anthurium flowers range from vibrant orange to lipstick red, but hybridization and selective cultivation have resulted in a range spanning from white to green to pink and everything in between. An Anthurium “flower” is actually a spadix (flower spike) enclosed in a waxy, leaf-like covering called a bract. And because the “flowers” are actually modified leaves, they provide long-lasting color on the plant. Some people might even say Anthurium flowers look plastic or almost fake-they’re that perfect.

You’ll recognize an Anthurium by its large, vaguely heart-shaped green leaves and especially its shiny, leathery flowers. Related: Make Anthurium Clarinervium Thrive: Expert Care Tips for Beginners

In fact, it’s so well-known that “Anthurium” usually refers to Anthurium andraeanum specifically, even though it’s the name for the entire genus. Also known as flamingo flower, flamingo lily, laceleaf, or painter’s palette, this houseplant is popular specifically due to its lovely blooms. In most other aroid plants (like Philodendron gloriosum, Philodendron ‘Pink Princess’, Alocasia ‘Polly’, and other Alocasia varieties), this flower is white and not much of an eye-catcher-the plants are grown primarily for their foliage.Īnthurium andraeanum is an exception.

The flowers, known as spathes, consist of a long spadix (flower spike) and a leaf-like covering (called a bract). The genus Anthurium is a member of the family Araceae, the aroids, which are characterized by their flowers. If you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission. Disclosure: All products on this page are independently selected.

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