Anthurium plowmanii

Anthurium plowmanii across its South American range

Anthurium plowmanii occurs from northern Peru and Bolivia through western Brazil to Paraguay. It grows on trees and rock in tropical forest.

Its range includes forest with a marked seasonal change in rainfall, and its exposed rooting sites drain rapidly after rain.

Keeping Anthurium plowmanii in good shape

• Pot and stability: Use a wide, heavy pot that stays stable as the rosette expands.
• Substrate and crown: Plant it in a coarse mix with bark, coco chips and a generous drainage component. Keep the centre of the rosette clear of substrate.
• Water: Let the upper part of the mix dry before watering again. Apply water to the root zone and empty any that remains trapped in the crown.
• Light: Give the plant bright indirect light from a broad source so the rosette receives even exposure.
• Leaf cleaning and airflow: Wipe or rinse the long blades when dust gathers, then let the centre dry with good airflow.
• Repotting: Repot only when the root mass is crowded; increase the pot size in a small step.

Problems in a bird’s-nest Anthurium

• The centre turns soft or smells sour: This can follow water or decaying debris remaining around the crown. Remove loose material, improve airflow and inspect the centre and lower stem for damaged tissue. If tissue is soft or decaying, remove only the loose failed material with a clean tool, keep the centre dry and leave all firm tissue intact.
• New growth is long, weak and widely spaced: Light may be too low, or the plant may still be recovering from stress. Move a dim plant gradually into brighter indirect light; after recent root or environmental stress, keep moisture and temperature steady until growth strengthens before adding fertiliser.
• Wavy margins brown along much of the leaf: Repeated drying or accumulated salts can affect the long edge. Rehydrate evenly, flush the substrate and adjust feeding.
• The pot becomes unstable: Move the plant into a broader, heavier container; a pole offers little benefit to the self-supporting rosette.

Anthurium plowmanii 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 plowmanii: where the name comes from

The genus name Anthurium combines Greek anthos, “flower”, and oura, “tail”, referring to the tail-like spadix. Plowmanii honours the American ethnobotanist Timothy Plowman.

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

Thomas Bernard Croat first described Anthurium plowmanii in 1987 in Candollea, volume 42, page 811.