Anthurium jenmanii ‘Gold’

A cultivated colour selection from a Guiana Shield species

The origin and breeder of ‘Gold’ are not publicly documented. Anthurium jenmanii ranges from Trinidad across the Guiana Shield to northern Brazil, usually below 500 m. It grows on trees, rocks or the ground in warm moist forest and sometimes more open woodland, forming a litter-catching bird’s-nest rosette.

Growing Anthurium indoors

• Golden rosette and propagation: Bright filtered light supports balanced growth, while the central crown should remain clear and dry. Separate a basal offset only after it has formed independent roots.
• Substrate and repotting: During acclimation, keep Anthurium jenmanii ‘Gold’ in its nursery pot while you compare pot weight before and after watering and watch the rosette crown and outer roots; repot after active roots make its drying rhythm predictable. Later, use a stable pot only slightly wider with medium bark, coco chips, coir and pumice.
• Watering: Water when the upper layer of the substrate begins to dry. Soak the root ball, drain it and empty water trapped in the central rosette.
• Humidity and airflow: Maintain moderate to high humidity with airflow through the leaf bases. Keep the crown free of standing water.
• Temperature: Keep new golden foliage in stable warmth and out of cold draughts. Warm roots suit these tropical rosette plants.

Troubleshooting Anthurium jenmanii ‘Gold’: normal changes and damage

• A lighter pot or soft yellow leaf: Very little weight in the pot and dry mix below the surface indicate thirst; water the root ball, then remove any water held in the crown. High pot weight several days later, damp mix and yellowing from the centre or lower leaves indicate wet-root stress; pause, then examine roots and leaf bases.
• A soft or hollow root system: Healthy roots at the base of the rosette feel thick and firm; a soft or hollow centre shows that the root has failed. Remove soft, hollow or foul-smelling roots with disinfected scissors, keep the crown above a close-fitting airy mix and drain the pot completely.
• Scarring, stippling and visible insects: Thrips often feed while the youngest leaf is still folded; cottony pests and scale are easiest to miss inside the crown. Isolate the plant, wipe visible insects from the plant with a damp swab, apply a product labelled for the pest into accessible hiding places. Keep to the product label for repeat timing and scan the youngest leaf after treatment.
• A fixed scar or moving dark edge: A dry bleached patch can follow direct sun, while bruising stays local. A soft wet mark at a leaf base becomes urgent when a yellow edge moves; keep leaf bases dry and monitor the outline closely.
• Dry leaf tips and water quality: Brown tips can follow uneven moisture, dry air or fertiliser salts. Check moisture deeper in the pot before adding water; clear mineral build-up and maintain mild air movement through the rosette.

Anthurium jenmanii ‘Gold’ 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.

Anthurium jenmanii: where the name comes from

The genus name Anthurium combines Greek anthos, “flower”, and oura, “tail”, referring to the tail-like spadix. Jenmanii honours the British botanist George Samuel Jenman.

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

Heinrich Gustav Adolf Engler first described Anthurium jenmanii in 1905 in Das Pflanzenreich, IV, 23B, page 72.