Houseplant
Anthurium (Flamingo Flower)
Anthurium andraeanum · Araceae
Also called: Flamingo Flower, Flamingo Lily, Tailflower, Painter's Palette, Laceleaf
Anthurium (Flamingo Flower) (Anthurium andraeanum) is a moderate-water houseplant well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It's a slow to moderate-growing houseplant.
Anthurium (Flamingo Flower) at a glance
- Water use
- Moderate (established)
- Sun
- Bright indirect light for best flowering; tolerates medium light but blooms less. Keep out of direct desert sun, which burns the leaves. An east-facing window is ideal.
- Mature size
- About 12-18 in. tall and wide indoors.
- Growth rate
- Slow to Moderate
- Bloom
- Glossy red, pink, white, or coral spathes ('flowers') with a central spadix., Can bloom year-round indoors in good light, with peaks spring through fall.
- Cold hardiness
- Frost-tender tropical; keep above 60°F, ideally 65-80°F. Damaged below 50°F. Grown indoors only in Tucson.
- Soil
- Coarse, very well-draining, airy mix; an orchid/aroid blend with bark, perlite, and peat or coir. Slightly acidic.
- Native range
- Colombia and Ecuador (tropical rainforest)
- Best used as
- Indoor flowering accent, Long-lasting cut flowers, Decorative tabletop houseplant
- Wildlife
- None (indoor plant).
- Toxicity
- Toxic to cats, dogs, and humans; contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals causing oral irritation, drooling, and swelling if chewed. Keep away from pets and children.
How to grow Anthurium (Flamingo Flower) in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Water when the top 1-2 inches of soil dry, then water thoroughly and let drain; do not let it sit in water (root rot) or fully dry out. Use filtered or distilled water in Tucson to avoid mineral/salt leaf-tip burn.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Feed every 6-8 weeks during spring and summer with a balanced or bloom-boosting (higher-phosphorus) houseplant fertilizer at quarter to half strength to encourage the colored spathes.
Pruning & care
Remove spent flowers and yellow or damaged leaves at the base with clean shears; wear gloves as the sap is irritating.
Notes
Grown only as a houseplant in Tucson; low-desert heat, sun, and dryness make outdoor culture impractical. Loves humidity, so combat Tucson's dry indoor air with a pebble tray, humidifier, or grouping. The colorful 'flower' is actually a modified leaf (spathe). Tap-water salts cause leaf burn, so use filtered/distilled water and flush the pot occasionally.
Sources: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension; ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List; Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder