Anthurium clavigerum

A canopy climber from tropical America

Anthurium clavigerum ranges from Honduras through western Amazonia. It begins on trees and can develop into a large climbing hemi-epiphyte, becoming established low in the canopy or along forest edges in wet tropical forest. Its roots encounter both humid bark and, as the plant develops, more stable contact with the ground.

Care for Anthurium roots and climbing growth

• Leaf care and propagation: Provide a strong pole or plank early because the climbing stem and divided mature leaves become heavy. Wipe each mature lobe gently and propagate from a node-bearing stem section with an established aerial root.
• Light: Give bright filtered light so the climbing stem remains compact. Acclimated leaves tolerate gentle morning or evening sun.
• Watering: Water when the surface begins to dry while the centre remains slightly moist. Soak the pot and moisten the support lightly if aerial roots are actively entering it.
• Feeding: Feed the plant lightly with a complete fertiliser during stem, leaf and aerial-root growth. Flush bark-based mixes with plain water occasionally.

Root, stem and leaf problems in Anthurium clavigerum

• A limp leaf or yellowing growth: A dry coarse mix, low pot weight and drooping divided leaves indicate thirst; water through the pot and let it drain. A heavy damp base with soft yellow growth points to root failure or a stem held too deeply in the mix.
• A crown that has stopped advancing: Smaller divided leaves, stretched stem sections or a leaning plant show that light or support is inadequate. Give bright filtered light and 20–28 °C, strengthen the support early and keep each new aerial root in contact.
• Checking the newest leaf for pests: Thrips scar soft new lobes; scale and mealybugs hide at the many vein junctions, nodes and ties. Take a close look at each leaf section as well as the climbing stem. Isolate, clean the plant and support. Apply a product labelled for the pest to the nodes, ties and leaf sections where pests were found and use the product’s stated timing for follow-up applications.
• Support becoming unstable: Large divided leaves can loosen a light support or pull it towards the pot edge. Anchor the support before the next leaf expands and retie the stem while it remains flexible.
• Fresh brown edging: Brown tips may be linked to rapid drying at the support, salts or dry air around exposed roots. Check pot and support separately, flush the root zone and moisten only areas carrying active roots.

Anthurium clavigerum 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.

What does Anthurium clavigerum mean, and who first published it?

The genus name Anthurium combines Greek anthos, “flower”, and oura, “tail”, referring to the tail-like spadix. Clavigerum means “club-bearing”, from Latin clava, “club”, and -ger, “bearing”.

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

Eduard Friedrich Poeppig first described Anthurium clavigerum in 1845 in Nova Genera et Species Plantarum, volume 3, page 84.