New Anthurium thread

[piping plovers]

Anthurium Vittariifolium. Surprised with the fast growth rate on these. Purchased as a seedling 4 years ago and arrived with cold damage. During that first week I thought I was going to lose the plant  I would have thought it would take 10 years to reach this size. Running out of ceiling height for it.

[metalfan]

I grow them from seed, and yes, they are slow for the first few years. They don;t start to really show strap leaves until year 2-3, then boom they grow fast

[Tracy]

A colorful leaf opening.   It doesn't look really with the shiny, almost plastic appearance. 

[metalfan]

I love it when they do this

[Tracy]

On 8/4/2025 at 7:33 PM, Tracy said:

A colorful leaf opening.   It doesn't look really with the shiny, almost plastic appearance. 

The same leaf as it has matured.   I like the shape.

[piping plovers]

A. salgarense ((top right In photo) with ambitions of taking over the kitchen table. I can see these becoming room sized leaves, in time.

Not to troll and start an internet aroid war, but is there really a difference between A. salgarense and A. decipiens? Asking for a friend 😀 —wondering if it’s some intricate detail that only the botanists could see; and yet, everyone else thinks they’re both the same species.

I have no business growing these behemoths indoors as houseplants, lol, but they are just so impressive. Looking at my seedling decipiens with increasingly large leaves, reminds me of watching a clumsy tiger cub. Tiny, fluffy creature with paws way too big for its size; always aware of just how imposing it will someday become.

 

 

[Silas_Sancona]

A. hookeri  ( ..or.. )  plowmanii  ..as the summer torture it has endured finally starts to loosen it's grip..

Aside from some tip burn to some of the leaves, not looking too bad, imo. 




Wasn't happy w/ how it was looking in the smaller pot i had it in so into something bigger it went. Regardless, when  i pulled it, it had put down a pretty good amount of roots in the time i'd had it in the smaller container.


Hard to see but it decided to push an offset on the far right side of the clump.  Seeing what might be an offset forming on the oldest plant too.





....If what seems to be emerging from a leaf on the oldest plant, on the left, is what i think it is... it may be gearing up to produce it's first flower stalk. Would assume these would want to be older before attempting reproduction,  but..  Guess age isn't a factor??



Have to watch what it does since starting more of these from seed would be pretty neat. 

Would be the first time trying to germinate seed of -anything- Anthurium related, ever,  too. 


If only someone, somewhere in the states would ever grow A. schlechtendalii again..  One can dream, right? lol. 

[piping plovers]

1 hour ago, Silas_Sancona said:

A. schlechtendalii

I had to look this one up. Very attractive upright habit. Was there a reason why growers in US stopped growing this? Just curious, are there characteristics about this species that you like over the more commonly seen hookeri?

[Silas_Sancona]

18 minutes ago, piping plovers said:

I had to look this one up. Very attractive upright habit. Was there a reason why growers in US stopped growing this? Just curious, are there characteristics about this species that you like over the more commonly seen hookeri?

Taller foliage / distinct look compared to the other two ( which are great of course )   Species range also extends north  to about 900 miles  / a 14 hour drive  south of AZ. putting it in an area that gives it some flexibility to heat and drought..  

Not so much that they've disappeared from cultivation, i mean if you look around enough, you'll find bigger specimens for sale.  It's the lack of smaller, starter sized plants i haven't seen in quite awhile..  Remember being able to find them at a smaller size w/ relative ease not that long ago  ..At least in all the obvious places i've looked. 

Plowmanii / forms of it  seem to be the " it " Bird's Nest. Anth.  atm.  

 Anthurium X " Big Bill " ..A cross between A. cubense and pendulifolium in which the leaves can exceed 10ft in length is another tough to find for sale plant atm..    Not that i have space for such a monster, lol.  
 

[piping plovers]

On 9/20/2025 at 1:42 AM, Silas_Sancona said:

 Anthurium X " Big Bill

wow, another one I needed to look up.

Reminded me of photos of the giant cabbage weigh-off in Alaska, lol. 

That anthurium will certainly add the tropical vibe to any garden space. I think I saw one of these in Selby's conservatory; I'll need to ask the staff about it next time I visit.

 

 

 

 

[Silas_Sancona]

10 minutes ago, piping plovers said:

That anthurium will certainly add the tropical vibe to any garden space.

..Or push the human  in the garden space ..out of it, Ha ha. 

Placed in the center of it, that thing would easily fill my living room. Probably break the beam holding up  the cealing too.

Audrey 2 -from Little shop of horrors-  be dammed 

[piping plovers]

20 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Placed in the center of it, that thing would easily fill my living room. Probably break the beam holding up  the cealing too.

lol.  Seriously, I cannot unsee this plant now after seeing photos of mature specimens. Strikingly tropical beauty, and yet, bordering on the grotesque.

If a municipality built a tropical conservatory and suspended only this one mature specimen in the entire structure, they could call it finished, Mission Accomplished.  lol.

Bravo, Great plant find on this one:) and thanks for sharing with us.

 

[Marie Nock]

On 9/19/2025 at 9:37 PM, Silas_Sancona said:

A. hookeri  ( ..or.. )  plowmanii  ..as the summer torture it has endured finally starts to loosen it's grip..

Aside from some tip burn to some of the leaves, not looking too bad, imo. 




Wasn't happy w/ how it was looking in the smaller pot i had it in so into something bigger it went. Regardless, when  i pulled it, it had put down a pretty good amount of roots in the time i'd had it in the smaller container.


Hard to see but it decided to push an offset on the far right side of the clump.  Seeing what might be an offset forming on the oldest plant too.





....If what seems to be emerging from a leaf on the oldest plant, on the left, is what i think it is... it may be gearing up to produce it's first flower stalk. Would assume these would want to be older before attempting reproduction,  but..  Guess age isn't a factor??



Have to watch what it does since starting more of these from seed would be pretty neat. 

Would be the first time trying to germinate seed of -anything- Anthurium related, ever,  too. 


If only someone, somewhere in the states would ever grow A. schlechtendalii again..  One can dream, right? lol. 

Your anthurium looks like plowmanii.  Many bird's nest anthuriums are called hookeri in error. The true species has very broad leaves and white seeds.  They are quite rare except in Hawaii where I found many great specimens on Oahu and the Big Island.  I brought seeds to Miami and grew them.  It's a shame you weren't here when I closed my nursery.  I had hookeri, schlechtendalii, Big Bill, salvinae as well as many other species and hybrids.  In the nineties my husband made the cross 'Marie' which was put in tissue culture and sold around the world.  It was the first large purple birds nest and when I see it online it is often called Hookeri Marie.  There was no hookeri in the cross.

[Silas_Sancona]

35 minutes ago, Marie Nock said:

Your anthurium looks like plowmanii.  Many bird's nest anthuriums are called hookeri in error. The true species has very broad leaves and white seeds.  They are quite rare except in Hawaii where I found many great specimens on Oahu and the Big Island.  I brought seeds to Miami and grew them.  It's a shame you weren't here when I closed my nursery.  I had hookeri, schlechtendalii, Big Bill, salvinae as well as many other species and hybrids.  In the nineties my husband made the cross 'Marie' which was put in tissue culture and sold around the world.  It was the first large purple birds nest and when I see it online it is often called Hookeri Marie.  There was no hookeri in the cross.

  Great info Marie.. Thanks.. 

I'd thought the same thing regarding the ID of mine, as well as the ..uncommon- ness.. of true hookeri.  See plants listed as hookeri from time to time, but, like you mention, they may not be the real deal,  so to say.  

Color of the berries was definitely something mentioned repeatedly regarding how to correctly separate plowmanii or schlechtendalii, from hookeri. 

Think Dr. Croat had written that hookeri might even be in it's own distinct section of the genus, rather a species tucked within the Pachynerium group.

Pretty sure i remember seeing specimens of your cross being offered at a few plant sales out there as well.. Purplish / bronz-y colored leaves definitely draws the eyes to it.  Will have to keep my eyes out for starter sized specimens. 
 

[Tracy]

On 9/19/2025 at 6:37 PM, Silas_Sancona said:

A. hookeri  ( ..or.. )  plowmanii  ..as the summer torture it has endured finally starts to loosen it's grip..

Aside from some tip burn to some of the leaves, not looking too bad, imo. 




Wasn't happy w/ how it was looking in the smaller pot i had it in so into something bigger it went. Regardless, when  i pulled it, it had put down a pretty good amount of roots in the time i'd had it in the smaller container.


Hard to see but it decided to push an offset on the far right side of the clump.  Seeing what might be an offset forming on the oldest plant too.





....If what seems to be emerging from a leaf on the oldest plant, on the left, is what i think it is... it may be gearing up to produce it's first flower stalk. Would assume these would want to be older before attempting reproduction,  but..  Guess age isn't a factor??



Have to watch what it does since starting more of these from seed would be pretty neat. 

Would be the first time trying to germinate seed of -anything- Anthurium related, ever,  too. 


If only someone, somewhere in the states would ever grow A. schlechtendalii again..  One can dream, right? lol. 

I acquired this Anthurium schlechtendalii a few years back from a friend.   He had a large specimen mounted in the crook of a Ficus in his backyard.   I don't recall seeing it when I was there last, but I was also distracted by so many other plants.

The only problem I have is with slugs as you can see in some of the photos. 

[realarch]

The infructescence color on A. pseudospectabile is such an intense orange and definitely gets a second look.

Tim 

[rimex88]

I’m glad I came across this thread, even though it’s a bit old. I saw your photo and it reminded me of my first regale, which I lost because of a watering mistake. Recently I rebuilt my collection and got an Anthurium from DocBlock – honestly, it’s the healthiest plant I’ve ever received by mail.

[metalfan]

One of my 'Big Splash' 

[Tracy]

On 9/24/2025 at 3:43 AM, metalfan said:

One of my 'Big Splash' 

Big Splash...kind of like a large mermaids tail.  Very nice big leaf.

Going for a completely different look with these Anthurium podophyllum.  They seem to always have blooms.  I keep threatening to put one in the ground but still haven't found a spot.

[metalfan]

I get blooms on my Podophyllum too. I have tried to pollinate them but it never takes.

I'm getting for size in my nigrolaminum Gigi

[PlantMorePalms]

Seeing each new leaf come out bigger than the last on Anthuriums is a great gardening pleasure...especially when you weren't sure if they would work at all.

A. cupulispathum new leaf just opened and is almost 24" long, and is likely still getting bigger.  These have absolutely massive leaves in their native cloud forests and places like Hawaii, I'm very curious to see how big they can get here.

A. pedatum with another new red leaf coming behind it. 

 

[piping plovers]

24 minutes ago, PlantMorePalms said:

These have absolutely massive leaves in their native cloud forests and places like Hawaii, I'm very curious to see how big they can get here.

Amazing how their leaves become progressively larger. I look back on previous leaves produced by the same plant thinking they were large at the time, only to be dwarfed in comparison to each new leaf.

[PalmsandLiszt]

On 9/29/2025 at 10:10 PM, piping plovers said:

Amazing how their leaves become progressively larger. I look back on previous leaves produced by the same plant thinking they were large at the time, only to be dwarfed in comparison to each new leaf.

My A. pendulifolium now is producing exponentially bigger leaves every go. Although they should get a lot bigger than this in time. I think I only got this one last December and it was tiny.

 

[Tracy]

On 9/25/2025 at 5:15 PM, Tracy said:

Big Splash...kind of like a large mermaids tail.  Very nice big leaf.

Going for a completely different look with these Anthurium podophyllum.  They seem to always have blooms.  I keep threatening to put one in the ground but still haven't found a spot.

The moment of the emergence. 

[Tracy]

I finally decided to put a couple of my Anthurium in the ground.   I selected two varieties that I have in duplicate, so if my attempt fails, I still have a backup.  One is Anthurium podophyllum and the other is yet to be determined, I don't think it has been named.  I had to clear out some small Aloes and a pair of wavy leaf Crassula that I was tired of growing in this spot.  The Crassula grows from cuttings very easily, so I overplanted it in too many spots.  Below are the initial results and I hope that it is successful.  If it works, I'll follow with more Anthuriums in the ground.

[piping plovers]

2 hours ago, Tracy said:

finally decided to put a couple of my Anthurium in the ground

That should make a lush, tropical bed! Do you use micro irrigation in those planting beds?

I just happened to watch a documentary last night on cattleya orchids growing in situ in Columbia and saw more anthuriums on the ground and in roadside banks than in trees.
 

Interestingly, many of the cattleyas were growing in trees very low to the ground and some had fallen on the ground. Signs all over of being ransacked by orchid poachers, as well.

[Tracy]

8 hours ago, piping plovers said:

That should make a lush, tropical bed! Do you use micro irrigation in those planting beds?

I just happened to watch a documentary last night on cattleya orchids growing in situ in Columbia and saw more anthuriums on the ground and in roadside banks than in trees.
 

Interestingly, many of the cattleyas were growing in trees very low to the ground and some had fallen on the ground. Signs all over of being ransacked by orchid poachers, as well.

I have drip irrigation and used the rocks so I could plant them a little high for good drainage.   My orchids on a stick all require hand watering so I can add a little to these on the ground as I water the orchids above them.   Andy's Orchids proprietor's brother Harry is a friend who has some of these Anthuriums in the ground, just across town from me.  So Harry is my inspiration for this test of my growing skills.