Anthurium plants, often called Flamingo Flowers or Laceleafs, are popular tropical houseplants. They are recognized for their striking beauty and vibrant, long-lasting blooms, offering continuous visual interest for indoor decoration.
The Anatomy of Anthurium Color
What many perceive as the flower of an Anthurium is actually a modified leaf structure known as a spathe. This glossy, heart-shaped or spade-shaped spathe is the primary source of the plant’s vibrant coloration and distinctive form. The actual, tiny flowers are found on the central column, called the spadix, which can also exhibit subtle hues or textures. The spathe serves to protect these true, minute flowers.
A Spectrum of Anthurium Colors
Anthurium spathes display an impressive array of colors, ranging from classic bright tones to more unusual shades and intricate patterns. Red anthuriums include classic bright reds, deep burgundies, and scarlet hues. The ‘Tropical Red’ is a common example of this vibrant category. Pink varieties encompass light pastels to deeper rose and fuchsia shades, sometimes appearing in bi-color combinations with green. Notable pink examples include ‘Marian Seefurth’ and the ‘Lady Beth’ tulip variety.
White anthuriums provide a versatile option for any decor, ranging from crisp, pure whites like ‘Success White’ to off-white varieties such as ‘Pua Kea’ and ‘Limelight’. Some white anthuriums, like ‘White Lady’, may even develop a slight pink tint as they mature. Green anthuriums come in shades from light lime to deep forest green, often blending seamlessly with other foliage.
Orange anthuriums feature bright, sunny tones, ranging from soft peach to fiery tangerine, adding a lively accent. Purple varieties span from lavender to deep, dark purple, creating a striking visual.
Beyond single colors, many anthuriums feature multi-colored or patterned spathes. These can include subtle transitions from one shade to another, such as yellow-green with pink-red tips, or a smooth gradient from green to pink. Some varieties, referred to as “obake” anthuriums, display two or more distinct colors, often with green and another color like pink, red, or white. The ‘Joli Pulse’ variety, for instance, transitions from white to pink and then to a fresh green as it matures.
Exploring Unique Anthurium Varieties
Specific Anthurium varieties stand out for their distinctive features, often combining unique colors with unusual shapes or textures. Anthurium ‘Black Love’ is a cultivar known for its deep maroon to nearly black, waxy spathes. Its dark, glossy foliage complements the spathe color, and its flowers last for months.
Anthurium ‘Livium’ features pink spathes striped with white, creating a bi-color effect. The ‘Livium Red’ variant has crimson spathes adorned with intricate white veining. These varieties showcase how specific breeding can lead to novel color combinations and patterns.
Anthurium ‘Ace of Spades’ is a notable hybrid known for its large, heart-shaped, velvety green leaves and deep burgundy flowers, with some rare forms producing nearly black leaves. While Anthurium crystallinum is primarily sought after for its deep green, heart-shaped leaves with prominent white veining, its flowers are subtle and green. This demonstrates that not all anthuriums are grown for their colorful spathes. Similarly, Anthurium luxurians is recognized for its leathery, deeply ridged, dark red or purple leaves that mature to dark green, resembling a diamond surface. These unique varieties illustrate the diverse appeal of anthuriums, extending beyond their vibrant spathes to include remarkable foliage characteristics.