We all know how beautifully gorgeous Anthurium flowers are! However, this article will give you an opportunity to know more about them, beyond their beauty. Have a look!

These flowers are truly one of a kind. This is so because you won't find any other flower as unique as this one! It is only because of its unique looks that this flower is also known as the 'Flamingo Flower' or the 'Boy Flower'! The term Anthurium is derived from the Greek words 'anthos', which means flowers, and 'oura', which means tail. Therefore, the exact meaning of the term is 'flowers on a tail'! Confused? Well, these flowers are not exactly what we think they are.

What Do Anthurium Flowers Signify?

Flowers on a tail? Well, it's a flower that has a tail like thing, but isn't the whole thing a flower itself? If this is what you are thinking, then like most of the people, you too are unaware that the actual flowers of Anthurium are actually the tiny buds that appear on the tail, which is known as the spadix of the flower. In order to clearly see these flowers, you would actually have to use a magnifying glass because with the naked eye, they just appear as small bumps. The colorful leaf (which most of us refer to as the flower) is known as the spathe, the purpose of which is to protect the flowers on the spadix! The spathe of the Anthurium come in various attractive colors including bright red, green, pink, orange, white, and even purple! The shape of the spadix can vary from straight, to spiral, to clubbed, or even tapered, and its color could be single (yellow, white, green, red etc.), to even multicolored!

Scientific Classification

There are approximately 1000 species of Anthurium, the flamingo flower! These species are mostly found in neotropical surroundings, like the tropical forests of both Central and South America. Apart from that you can also find these species in Brazil, Ecuador, Panama, Guiana Shield, and Colombia. As this flower is among the most popular flowering plants, its species are also grown in the rain forests of Asia. The spadix consists of both male and female flowers which are sometimes divided with the help of a sterile band, which helps separating the male flowers from the female ones. Have a look at the scientific classification of the Anthurium flower.

Scientific Facts Family: Araceae Genus: Anthurium Kingdom: Plantae Order: Alismatales Tribe: Anthurieae

Growth and Habitat

As mentioned earlier, Anthurium is found in neotropical surroundings and is one of the plants that doesn't require a plant sitter in general. Another interesting thing about the Anthurium flower is that they can grow in varied forms. On one hand there are certain species which grow by climbing over other objects; like vines, and on the other hand there are other species that can grow even on rocks! Like their growing habitat, their species vary vastly in terms of color, shapes, and sizes. The large species may have the spadix measuring more than a foot in terms of length, and the spathe may be almost a foot when measured across. However, there are smaller species which are merely a few inches tall. When it comes to the growth, there are some species which have a single leaf and grow upright. Apart from that you will also find certain species of the Anthurium flower which appear more bushy as compared to others.

If you plan to grow an Anthurium plant, then the procedure is fairly simple. The basic way of growing these flowers would be to plant the mature seeds or berries of the plant. However, you can also cut the stems of the Anthurium plant (make sure it has at least two joints) and then plant it in a pot with proper drainage facility! Place these pots away from direct sunlight but keep in mind that they do get some sunlight. Many people also take the stems of the flower and place it in water for 3-5 weeks. After this period, the roots develop in the stem after which these stems are transferred to a pot with loamy soil.

How to Take Care of Anthurium Flowers

As mentioned earlier, taking care of Anthurium flowers is not that difficult a task! However, like any other flower, there are certain things that you should keep in mind when it comes to taking care of the flamingo flower, the most important of which is that you should never over water it and never place it under direct sunlight. Whenever you water your Anthurium, always press the soil with your fingertips, if you find it moist, then wait for some more days to water the plant. It is only when the soil is dry that you should consider watering the plant. As far as sunlight is concerned, Anthurium does require sunlight but not direct sunlight! Therefore always make it a point to place your Anthurium in a spot where it gets enough sunlight... just not directly! It is advisable to keep the Anthurium in a 5-6 inch pot with a proper drainage plate and keep the pot clean. You must do this to avoid gnats on the plant.

I am sure after knowing so much about these flowers, you must be eager to get one of your own and give those tiny buds, which actually are the flowers, a closer look! I hope you enjoyed reading and understanding about the Anthurium a little more closely... I know I did.