Anthurium arisaemoides

Natural habitat of Anthurium arisaemoides

Anthurium arisaemoides is native from Ecuador through Peru to western Bolivia. It grows at roughly 300–2,000 m in moist and wet forest, both on the ground and as an epiphyte. Plants are often found in moss and loose organic material around tree bases, or creeping through sheltered forest growth.

How to grow Anthurium arisaemoides at home

• Maintain light, even moisture: Water once the surface begins to dry and the centre of the mix still feels lightly moist. Soak the root ball and let the pot drain fully.
• Use a fine open substrate: Coir, fine composted bark and pumice or perlite hold moisture around the roots without packing tightly around the stem.
• Give the stem room to travel: Let low growth reach the edge of the pot, or guide a rising stem loosely against a small support. When repotting, lay creeping stem sections back on the surface and cover only the roots.
• Choose filtered light and warmth: Bright shade to bright indirect light suits the textured foliage. Protect the plant from intense midday sun, cold draughts and temperatures below 15 °C.
• Provide humidity and gentle airflow: Keep air moving around the stem and leaf bases so water dries after watering or cleaning.

Common issues with Anthurium arisaemoides

• The whole divided leaf droops and the mix feels dry: Water the root ball thoroughly and let it drain. Check how quickly the fine mix dries before deciding the next interval.
• Lower leaves yellow and the stem feels soft near the mix: Prolonged moisture may be damaging the roots or stem. Pause watering, inspect both areas and remove soft tissue with clean tools. Repot healthy roots in fresh airy mix and use the root rot guide for the full sequence.
• Crisp brown patches appear across the quilted leaf: Review direct sun, hot dry airflow and long gaps between waterings. Filter the light, move the plant away from heat and stabilise root moisture. The brown leaf tips guide is useful when the damage begins at the margins.
• A new leaf opens unevenly or shows bronze speckling: Fine pale stippling with webbing indicates spider mites, while silvery scars with black specks indicate thrips; uneven opening or bronze speckling alone does not confirm either pest. Isolate the plant and inspect the undersides and folded growth for these signs. Wash both leaf surfaces, the folded growth and the stem. If spider mites are confirmed, apply a treatment labelled for spider mites to those same areas; if thrips are confirmed, apply a treatment labelled for thrips to both leaf surfaces, the folded growth and the stem. Repeat the chosen treatment at the intervals stated on its label for the full course.

Anthurium arisaemoides is toxic to people and pets

• Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs.
• Its leaves and stems contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which can irritate the mouth, throat, skin and eyes.
• Chewing may cause burning pain, drooling, swelling, vomiting or difficulty swallowing. Contact a veterinarian or medical professional after exposure, especially if swelling or breathing problems occur.

Who first published Anthurium arisaemoides, and what does the name mean?

The genus name Anthurium combines Greek anthos, “flower”, and oura, “tail”, referring to the tail-like spadix. Arisaemoides means “resembling Arisaema”, another aroid genus.

Heinrich Wilhelm Schott established the genus Anthurium in 1829 in Wiener Zeitschrift für Kunst, Literatur, Theater und Mode, volume 3, page 828.

Michael T. Madison first described Anthurium arisaemoides in 1978 in Selbyana, volume 2, issue 23, page 249.