10 Best Anthurium Plant Varieties with Names and Images
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Anthurium varieties are popular plants for indoors on account of their ability to adapt to a wide range of growing conditions. A few Anthuriums are grown for their beautiful and striking flowers but most are grown for their spectacular foliage.
Anthurium is a genus of about 1,000 species of flowering plants in the family Araceae. They are native to the Americas, being distributed from northern Mexico to northern Argentina and parts of the Caribbean.
Anthuriums are considered toxic to both humans and pets due to the presence of oxalate crystals. If ingested these crystals cause digestive distress, breathing problems and skin irritation. Always wear gloves when handling Anthuriums and wash your hands thereafter.
Anthurium Plants are easy to grow if they are given the right growing requirements. Generally, Anthuriums require bright indirect light, warm and humid conditions and moist, rich, well-drained Aroids potting soil coupled with regular feeding in the growing season.
If you are looking to add these plants to your collection, we have outlined for you herebelow 10 of the best Anthurium Varieties that you can grow successfully.
10 Anthurium Plant Varieties for the Home
Popular Anthuriums include Anthurium andraeanum, Anthurium brownii, Anthurium crystallinum, Anthurium forgetii, Anthurium luxurians, Anthurium metallicum, Anthurium radicans among others. Keep reading to get the complete list.
1. Anthurium andraeanum
Anthurium andraeanum commonly called Laceleaf Anthurium, Oilcloth Flower, Painter's Palette or Tailflower is among flowering plants and features long, glossy, blooms with a straight or arched yellow or white tail.
The blooms on Tailflower are not true flowers but are spathes, each with a yellow or white spadix covered densely with tiny true flowers.
Anthurium andraeanum thrives in bright indirect light (dappled light), warmth of 18-270C, humidity of 50-60% and consistently moist, rich, well-drained potting soil coupled with fortnightly feeding in the growing season. Learn more on how to grow and care for Anthurium andraeanum (Laceleaf Anthurium).
2. Anthurium brownii
Anthurium brownii is among large-leafed plants and bears large, curly, ribbed, yellow-veined, heart-shaped leaves which feel like a fiddle leaf fig in texture which stand out in any space.
Anthurium brownii blooms and fruits year round, the blooms comprise of a long protruding spadix covered in spirals of tiny flowers, and the spathe hangs down below the spadix.
Anthurium brownii flourishes in bright indirect light, warmth of 16-270C, humidity of 60-80% and consistently moist, fertile, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season. Learn more on how to grow and care for Anthurium brownii.
3. Anthurium crystallinum
Anthurium crystallinum commonly called Crystal Anthurium is among tropical foliage plants and features heart-shaped leaves with a velvety surface and the leaf color changes from bronzy-purple to deep-green with age.
Anthurium crystallinum is widely bred, cultivated and hybridised. It is often mistaken for Anthurium clarinervium and Anthurium magnificum both of which look similar though they differ in size and leaf presentation.
Anthurium crystallinum prospers in bright indirect, warmth of 16-270C, humidity of 60-80% and consistently moist, fertile, well-drained potting soils coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season. Learn more on how to grow and care for Anthurium crystallinum (Crystal Anthurium).
4. Anthurium forgetii
Anthurium forgetii is a popular plant on account of its large, dark-green, round leaves with silver veining but lacking a sinus (upper lobes) which enables them to flexibly hang on their stems like teardrops.
The spectacular foliage on Anthurium forgetii makes this plant one of the best plants for the home where it will create a beautiful sight to behold in any space.
Anthurium forgetii blossoms in bright indirect light, warmth of 16-270C, humidity of 60-80% and consistently moist, fertile, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season. Learn more on how to grow and care for Anthurium forgetii.
5. Anthurium luxurians
Anthurium luxurians is a popular foliage Anthurium whose large, bullet-shaped leaves are dark-green and have a crinkled leaf surface which reflects light. In the juvenile stage, the foliage is light green and as it matures, it turns dark green to almost black.
The Anthurium luxurians grows to a height of 1-2 feet but the leaves are large and have a spread of about 2 feet. On account of its compact size and affinity for highly warm and humid conditions, Anthurium luxurians is among plants for the bathroom.
Anthurium luxurians prospers in bright indirect light (dappled light), warmth of 16-270C, humidity of 60-70% and consistently moist, rich, well-drained potting soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season. Read more on how to grow and care for Anthurium luxurians.
6. Anthurium metallicum
Anthurium metallicum is a popular foliage Anthurium on account of its large, velvety, dark-green leaves with distinct veining and a beautiful sheen.
Anthurium metallicum grows to a height of 6 feet with a spread of 3-5 feet. The leaves can be over 4 feet long with a beautiful velvety sheen, placing it among large, low-light plants for the living room and will provide a magnificent sight in any space.
Anthurium metallicum flourishes in bright indirect light (filtered light), warmth of 16-280C, humidity of 60-80% and consistently moist, fertile, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding in the growing season. Learn more on how to grow and care for Anthurium metallicum.
7. Anthurium radicans
Anthurium radicans also known as Anthurium Malyi is a popular plant for its lovely, glossy, blistered-looking, heart-shaped, dark-green leaves which are deeply veined and for its showy flowers with a maroon pinkish color.
Anthurium Malyi is a small herbaceous evergreen tropical perennial plant which grows to a height of about 1.8 feet. It is among plants for an office desk on account of its compact size.
Anthurium radicans thrives in bright indirect light, warmth of 16-270C, humidity of 60-80% and consistently moist, rich, well-drained potting soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season. Learn more on how to grow and care for Anthurium radicans.
8. Anthurium scherzerianum
Anthurium scherzerianum commonly called Flamingo Flower or Pigtail Plant is a popular flowering plant on account of the glossy red, heart-spaded blooms with an orange curly tail which can last for weeks.
Pigtail Plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit as an ornamental plant placing it among the best plants for the office where it will create a great focal point.
Anthurium scherzerianum blossoms in bright indirect light (dappled light), warmth of 15-270C, humidity of 60-70% and consistently moist, rich, well-drained soil coupled with fortnightly feeding during the growing season. Learn more on how to grow and care for Anthurium scherzerianum (Flamingo Flower).
9. Anthurium villenaorum
Anthurium villenaorum is a compact foliage Anthurium bearing teardrop-shaped, light to dark green leaves with prominent venation and is considered one of the easiest of the Velvet Leaf Anthuriums which can bloom upto five times a year.
The leaves in Anthurium villenaorum have a glossy and slightly corrugated texture which adds to its beauty. This makes it a sought-after plant and one of the favorite plants for the living room for creating a spectacular sight.
Anthurium villenaorum prefers bright indirect light, warmth of 16-270C, humidity of 60-70% and consistently moist, fertile, well-drained soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season. Learn more on how to grow and care for Anthurium villenaorum.
10. Anthurium vittariifolium
Anthurium vittariifolium is an epiphyte with short stem and the long, strappy leaves which are clustered at or near the apex of the stem.
Anthurium vittariifolium and its cousin Anthurium pallidiflorum are Strap Leaf Anthuriums with long, pendulous leaves making them ideal plants for hanging baskets.
Anthurium vittariifolium blossoms in bright indirect light (dappled light), warmth of 16-270C, humidity of 60-70% and moderately moist, fertile, well-drained potting soil coupled with monthly feeding during the growing season. Learn more on how to grow and care for Anthurium vittariifolium.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How many varieties of Anthurium are there?
There are over 1,000 known Anthurium species, along with countless hybrids and cultivars.
2. Are Anthurium plants toxic?
Yes, Anthuriums are toxic to pets and humans if ingested due to calcium oxalate crystals.
3. Do Anthuriums grow well indoors?
Yes, most Anthurium varieties thrive indoors when provided with bright indirect light and proper care.
4. Which Anthurium is best for beginners?
Anthurium andraeanum and Anthurium scherzerianum are the easiest varieties for beginners.
5. Are Anthurium plants rare?
Some Anthurium species are common, but many foliage Anthuriums like warocqueanum and forgetii are considered rare and expensive.
6. What is the difference between Anthurium andraeanum and A. scherzerianum?
Anthurium andraeanum has straight spadices and larger spathes, while A. scherzerianum features a curly spadix and compact growth.
7. How long do Anthurium flowers last?
Anthurium blooms can last 6–8 weeks, sometimes longer with proper care.
8. Are Anthuriums easy to care for?
Flowering Anthuriums are easy to moderate in care, while foliage Anthuriums are more demanding.
9. What is the most beautiful Anthurium variety?
Anthurium warocqueanum, A. clarinervium and A. crystallinum are among the most admired.
10. Which Anthurium has the biggest leaves?
Anthurium regale and Anthurium warocqueanum produce some of the largest leaves.
