Anthurium
The anthurium's heart-shaped, waxy spathe (the coloured part is not a flower, botanically — it's a modified leaf) delivers a graphic, tropical statement. Modern hybrids include chocolate, black, and jade-green cultivars beloved by editorial designers. Vase life is exceptional — 4 weeks with basic care.
| Family | Araceae |
|---|---|
| Origin | Central and South America; commercially grown Netherlands, Costa Rica, Hawaii |
| Peak season | all year |
| Availability | all year |
| Stem length | 40–80 cm |
| Vase life | 14–28 days |
| Colors | red, pink, coral, orange, white, green, brown, burgundy, near-black |
| Price tier | mid |
Cut on a diagonal. Fresh water. Wipe the waxy spathe with a damp cloth to remove dust.
- •Extremely long vase life — 2–4 weeks
- •Waxy spathe — clean with a damp cloth for a glossy look
- •Modern hybrids in unexpected colours: black, chocolate, green
- •Tropical, editorial flower — pairs with monstera leaves and palm
8 named anthurium cultivars from the Lacy Bird master catalogue — each a distinct commercial variety.
Entries marked ✦ come from the Acanta master catalogue — the shared database of cut flowers, forms, colours and named varieties that florists and studios build on. The rest are our editorial genus reference. What is Acanta →
Bouquet Builder — by Lacy BirdDesign the bouquet. See it as a photo.
Botanical reference
- Common name
- Flamingo-Lily
- Also known as
- flamingo flower, tail flower, Anthurium andraeanum album, Anthurium andraeanum amoenum, Anthurium andraeanum atrosanguineum, Anthurium andraeanum delicatissimum, Anthurium andraeanum divergens, Anthurium andraeanum louisae, Anthurium andraeanum louisii, Anthurium andraeanum roseum, Anthurium andraeanum salmoneus, Anthurium andraeanum sanguineum
- Distribution
- Colombia, Ecuador, Tuluá
- Cold storage
- 12.5–20 °C
Open-data sources: GBIF, Wikidata (CC0/CC BY), USDA Agriculture Handbook 66 (public domain)
Frequently asked questions
When is Anthurium in season?
Anthurium peaks in all year, and florists can usually source it all year. Availability shifts by region and greenhouse supply.
How long does Anthurium last in a vase?
Expect 14–28 days with proper conditioning — a clean vase, fresh water every couple of days, flower food, and a cool spot away from ripening fruit and direct heat.
What can I use instead of Anthurium?
Good substitutes for Anthurium include Calla lily. Match on look, colour and season — our substitute finder ranks the closest alternatives.
What does Anthurium symbolise?
Anthurium is associated with hospitality, abundance.
How do you care for cut Anthurium?
Extremely long vase life — 2–4 weeks
Related flowers
Free to quote and cite with attribution and a link back, for non-commercial and editorial use (blogs, journalism, classrooms, research).
Lacy Bird Flower Encyclopedia — “Anthurium”. https://lacybird.com/flowers/anthurium/<a href="https://lacybird.com/flowers/anthurium/">Lacy Bird Flower Encyclopedia — Anthurium</a>