Anthurium waterburyanum

Identity and natural origin of Anthurium waterburyanum

Material grown as Anthurium waterburyanum is associated with northwestern Ecuador, while its exact natural range and growth habit remain uncertain.

How to care for Anthurium waterburyanum

• Light and leaf clearance: Use bright filtered light and keep the newest leaf clear of neighbouring foliage and hot glass.
• Temperature: Aim for a steady 18–27 °C. Keep it clear of sustained conditions below 15 °C.
• Humidity and airflow: Aim for a steady 60–80% humidity to support the expanding lobes. Gentle airflow helps the notch between the lobes and the leaf undersides dry after watering.
• Check moisture below the surface: Use a loose, free-draining aroid mix and water when its upper section has dried. Soak the entire root ball and let the container drain; a heavy damp pot should not receive more water.
• Feeding: A light complete fertiliser is enough while the plant is actively making leaves and roots. Reduce feeding as growth slows.
• Repotting: Once the roots fill the pot, move up only slightly in container size. Replace mix that has broken down and drains slowly, and keep the plant stable in its pot.
• Propagation: Separate a rooted basal shoot when available; otherwise use a healthy stem section with an active growing point.

Troubleshooting cultivated Anthurium waterburyanum

• A young plant has narrow, lightly marked leaves: Juvenile foliage can differ strongly from the broad mature form. Judge the plant by healthy roots and progressively stronger growth across successive leaves.
• A soft new leaf opens unevenly: Check for contact, abrupt root dryness and pest signs. Clear nearby obstructions or water thoroughly after severe root dryness. Uneven opening alone does not confirm a pest: fine pale stippling with webbing indicates spider mites, while silvery scars with black specks indicate thrips. If you confirm spider mites or thrips, isolate the plant, rinse hardened foliage and apply a treatment labelled for the confirmed pest to both leaf surfaces and the folded new growth. Repeat it at the intervals stated on the label for the full course before the next leaf begins expanding.
• The plant droops while the pot remains heavy: Pause watering and inspect the roots. If roots are dark, hollow or mushy, remove only the failed sections, retain all firm roots and repot the healthy remainder in fresh, airy mix with free drainage. The root rot recovery steps give additional detail.

Anthurium waterburyanum 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.

How the name Anthurium waterburyanum came about

The genus name Anthurium combines Greek anthos, “flower”, and oura, “tail”, referring to the tail-like spadix. The epithet waterburyanum honours Bette Waterbury.

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 and David Scherberich first described Anthurium waterburyanum in 2025 in Aroideana 48(3): 255.