The other visual difference is Scherzerianum has different shaped leaves, being longer and more slender than Andreanum. Providing they're in flower, this is the easiest way to tell the two varieties apart. The flower spike is also curly like a Pig tail (hence the other common name this plant goes by) rather than straight and usually the same colour as the spathe whereas the Painter's Palette has a straight spathe. Newer cultivars have started to be sold which have multiple colors so the choice available is high.Īlthough the Scherzerianum is harder to find in stores it's just as elegant as the Andreanum - photo by Romwriter The spathe and flower spike (spadix) can be red, white, cream, maroon or purple or a combination of these. As it's one of the most popular cut flowers in the world, you're probably also going to recognise this plant easily when you see its picture below. Of all the species, the Painter's Palette is the easiest one to find in shops. Painter's Palette ( Anthurium Andreanum or Anthurium Antioquiensis) We're going to quickly cover the more popular available species being sold in a little more detail, so you understand the differences before moving onto the care guide. They're pretty self-sufficient, so my top tip is not to fuss them too much. They're not truly 'easy care' plants though, and even experienced houseplant owners can find them tricky at times, but if you've had some experience with indoor gardening (or are keen to learn) you should be fine. Their leaves are generally leathery and tough and can withstand a variety of indoor growing conditions.

The good news, most Anthuriums are epiphytes so they can put up with some poor treatment and can still do well even in the hands of a beginner. Consequently, they'll put up with a lot and in turn make for unfussy houseplants. They have to make do with limited rainfall and falling debris for nourishment.Īll of this means they have to be tough to deal with these unusual growing conditions and fairly extreme environmental variables. Why do epiphytes like Anthuriums make good indoor plants?Įpiphytic plants usually attach themselves to other plants or objects and do not have a constant supply of water or nutrients. However, they're highly sought after, so more growers will likely be selling them within a few years, at which point you can expect their visibility in stores to increase and prices to tumble. These are typically classed as 'rare Anthurium houseplants' as they're harder to come by and can have high price tags. Anthurium Clarinervium, Anthurium Crystallinum and Anthurium Luxurians are three examples. The less common varieties skip the flowers and focus on the foliage instead. With the bright waxy tough flowers hovering above the contrasting green leaves for months on end they're good value and certainly have many fans. So it's not unusual for these plants to be in almost continuous bloom. The more popular and common species are Anthurium Andreanum and Anthurium Scherzianum which have long-lasting flowers that look good for months. How do you pronounce Anthurium correctly? Say: Therefore you'll typically only find some of the more easy going species being sold as houseplants. This is not always the natural environment in our homes or places of work so some of these tropical plants can be challenging to keep as houseplants. Plants belonging to the Anthurium family, in general, come from the tropical regions of South America and so thrive in warm and humid environments. Some Anthuriums produce flowers that can last for months

Purple flamingo plant