Anthuriums are spectacular tropical plants that are commonly grown as houseplants. Also known as the flamingo flower or laceleaf, these extravagant aroids are highly-prized for their enormous heart-shaped leaves and multitude of uses and benefits. Along with their show-stopping beauty, anthuriums carry symbolic meanings associated with abundance, hospitality, love, and luck. In this article, we’ll learn all about the meaning and symbolism of anthurium plants around the world today.
The Meaning & Symbolism of Anthuriums – The Essentials
Anthuriums carry the symbolic meaning of hospitality, happiness, and abundance. Red anthurium varieties typically represent love, lust, and sensuality. White varieties can symbolize peace and purity. Anthuriums are also thought to bestow good luck along with protection against evil.
About Anthuriums
Family, Genus, & Taxonomy
Anthuriums belong to the Araceae family, otherwise known as arums or aroids. These plants make up the largest genus in the Araceae family, with a staggering total of over 1,000 individual species. Anthuriums also belong to the Pothoideae subfamily – which also includes pothos varieties.
Botanical Characteristics
Although they’re commonly known as the flamingo flower, anthuriums don’t actually have true flowers. Instead, the slightly waxy or velvety heart-shaped leaves form a spathe. This is essentially a brightly-colored leaf (also known as a bract) designed to entice insects to pollinate the plant.
Protruding from the stem of an anthurium is the spadix – a spike-shaped cluster of tiny flowers ranging from white to yellow. As insects are lured in by the spathe, they clamber over the spadix and pollinate the anthurium.
Most anthurium varieties have large heart-shaped leaves in various shades of green. These varieties, like Anthurium crystallinum, also have prominent cream or white veins spanning each leaf. Two of the more traditional anthurium species – Anthurium andraeanum and Anthurium scherzerianum – can have glossy red spathes. Other colors include pink and white.
Anthuriums grow in warm, humid, tropical conditions – making them ideal as houseplants. Anthuriums typically grow as epiphytes in indirect, dappled sunlight. To help them cling to their host, anthuriums often send out little white aerial roots.
Anthuriums are toxic to both humans and animals. The leaves are poisonous if ingested and the sap can cause eye or skin irritation.
Anthuriums also work well as air-purifying plants. NASA’s Clean Air Study shows that anthuriums can help remove harmful chemicals like ammonia, formaldehyde, toluene, and xylene from the air.
They’re also relatively easy to propagate if you’d like to expand your anthurium plant collection.
History & Origin of Anthuriums
Anthuriums originated in the jungles of Colombia and other parts of Central and South America. During the 1850s, an Austrian explorer called Karl von Scherzer discovered an anthurium species in Colombia. The plant was named Anthurium scherzerianum as a result.
New species were discovered rapidly, with 183 anthurium varieties recorded by 1860. Now, we know of approximately 1,000 individual types of anthuriums.
Popular Types of Anthuriums
Most anthuriums are exceptionally beautiful, but there are a few particular varieties that stand out. Here are some of the most popular types of anthuriums:
- Anthurium andraeanum
- Anthurium crystallinum
- Anthurium magnificum
- Anthurium scherzerianum
- Anthurium watermaliense
Etymological Meaning
The name Anthurium originates from two Greek words – “anthos”, which means “flower” and “oura”, meaning “tail”. The literal translation into English means “flowering tail” due to how the spathe and spadix are arranged.
What Regions Are Anthuriums Native to?
Anthuriums first originated in the Colombian jungle but are now found throughout tropical areas of Central and South America. Anthuriums can be found in regions like Argentina, northern Mexico, and some of the Caribbean islands.
The Meaning, Symbolism, and Cultural Significance of Anthuriums
The colorful displays of anthuriums are also packed with meaning and symbolism. Anthuriums have been celebrated in different cultures and time periods, so let’s explore this symbolism.
General Meaning and Symbolism of Anthuriums
In many traditions, anthuriums are used to represent hospitality. The gorgeous colors of these tropical houseplants make a space feel welcoming and inviting. Anthuriums can “bloom” for long periods, making them excellent houseplants for adding impact and interest to any space. Anthuriums are sometimes known as the hospitality flower.
Anthuriums are also believed to symbolize happiness due to their uplifting colors. The stunning heart-shaped spathes are typically green, but some varieties can also sport red, pink, or white spathes. Growing anthuriums is seen as a way of cultivating happiness.
Anthuriums also represent abundance and wealth. These showy houseplants certainly look regal thanks to their big, prominent leaves or brightly-colored spathes. The individual colors of these bracts can also have different meanings.
Pink Anthurium Meaning and Symbolism
Pink anthuriums, like some cultivars of Anthurium andraeanum, represent femininity and womanhood. Pink anthuriums make ideal gifts for women who have recently given birth. They can also be a more unique gift for Mother’s Day instead of traditional carnations or roses.
Red Anthurium Meaning and Symbolism
Red anthuriums are frequently associated with lust, passion, romantic love, and sensuality. The shiny, almost waxy red spathes of Anthurium andraeanum often make us think of red lipstick.
White Anthurium Meaning and Symbolism
White anthuriums symbolize qualities like innocence, purity, and peace. Some varieties of Anthurium andraeanum produce gorgeous white spathes. White anthuriums are a popular choice as bridal flowers.
Green Anthurium Meaning and Symbolism
Green anthuriums, like Anthurium crystallinum or Anthurium magnificum, represent growth, hope, and strength. This color of anthurium is a good way of reducing stress and providing a visible link with nature.
Purple Anthurium Meaning and Symbolism
Some anthurium varieties also have breathtaking purple spathes, like Anthurium andraeanum. Since ancient times, purple has been associated with nobility and royalty.
Anthuriums in Feng Shui
In feng shui, anthuriums are believed to bring their owner good luck. Specifically, anthuriums are thought to ensure good luck in your relationships and romantic endeavors. Red anthuriums may be the best for this.
According to the Bagua map, anthuriums can work well in the southwest area of your home or room. The southwest area is attributed to love and relationships. This can make anthuriums ideal for bedrooms if the orientation allows.
Inspired by feng shui, Chinese New Year celebrations also prize the anthurium as a symbol of prosperity and good fortune for the year ahead. The association with prosperity may be inspired by the long bloom time of anthuriums – they last for two or three months.
Anthuriums in Mythology
The link between anthuriums and love may originate from Greek mythology. According to one story, Cupid used anthurium flowers to create his arrows that could make people fall in love. This helps explain why red anthuriums are traditionally associated with love, lust, and romance.
Suitable Gifting Occasions for Anthuriums
Because they have so many meanings, anthuriums make excellent gift ideas for several major occasions. Different colors of anthurium can suit different occasions.
Red anthuriums symbolize love, lust, and romance – making them excellent gifts for Valentine’s Day. However, red anthuriums have also become traditional houseplants for Christmas alongside other plants like poinsettias.
Pink anthuriums represent femininity, making them ideal presents for Mother’s Day. You can also use pink anthuriums as a gift for a partner or friend who has recently given birth.
White anthuriums are associated with purity and innocence. So it’s no surprise that white anthuriums are often used in bridal bouquets or as a gift for the bride and groom.
In general, anthuriums make great housewarming gifts because they symbolize hospitality and happiness. Anthuriums are also good presents for encouraging good luck, especially if you want to give someone a boost with their love life. According to feng shui, anthuriums represent good fortune in romantic relationships.
Anthurium Plant FAQs:
What does an Anthurium flower symbolize?
Anthurium flowers symbolize qualities like hospitality, happiness, and abundance. Red anthuriums represent love and lust, while white anthuriums symbolize innocence and purity.
Are Anthuriums lucky?
According to feng shui teachings, anthuriums are believed to stimulate good luck for one’s romantic endeavors and relationships. Anthuriums are also thought to encourage prosperity if used as a decoration during the Chinese New Year.
Do Anthuriums come back every year?
Anthuriums are perennial tropical houseplants that will bloom every year if kept in the right conditions. Anthuriums require high humidity levels, warm temperatures, medium indirect sunlight, slightly acidic soil, regular watering, occasional fertilizing, pruning, and repotting. They are largely pest and disease resistant indoors and typically bounce back from common issues such as drooping, or yellowing anthurium foliage with due care.
How long do Anthurium flowers last?
Anthurium “flowers” are actually specialized leaves called spathes. These colorful leaves can last for up to two or three months.
Do Anthuriums flower more than once?
Because they’re perennial houseplants, anthuriums can produce colorful spathes every year. In ideal conditions, anthuriums can “flower” up to six times a year.
Anthurium Meaning and Symbolism – The Final Word
As well as boasting stunning good looks thanks to their glossy, heart-shaped spathes, anthuriums are also packed with rich meaning and symbolism. Anthuriums are believed to represent qualities like abundance, hospitality, and happiness.
Red anthuriums are particularly symbolic and are associated with love, romance, and even lust. In feng shui, anthuriums are used to cultivate good fortune in romantic relationships. It’s no surprise that so many people fall in love with anthuriums.
If you’re looking for your next anthurium plant to add to your collection, see our in-depth guide to the best plant shops delivering anthuriums nationwide.
Andrew is the Editorial Director at Petal Republic. He holds a BSc degree in Plant Sciences and has trained professionally at leading floristry schools in London and Paris. In amongst overseeing a global editorial team, Andrew's a passionate content creator around all things flowers, floral design, gardening, and houseplants.
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