Anthurium (Tailflower)

Richard J. Henny, Richard J. Henny, Jianjun Chen, andTerri A. Mellich

Anthurium and Spathiphyllum are popular tropical ornamental plants. They have lush leaves and exotic flowers and are prized for interior decoration in both residential and public settings.

Richard J. Henny, Richard J. Henny, Jianjun Chen, andTerri A. Mellich

Anthurium (Anthurium andreanum Linden ex Andre (Family:Araceae) has historically been bred, developed and grown for cut flower production. The showy red, orange, pink or white spathes are prized as exotic, high-value cut flowers (Kamemoto and Kuehnle 1996). The large overall plant size, long petioles and tall peduncles of the cut flower varieties generally preclude their use as containerized potted plants. Since the beginning of the millennium, however, new Anthurium varieties have been developed to emphasize a smaller overall plant size combined with a highly prolific flowering habit. This new direction is intended for flowering potted plant production. Anthurium X 'Red Hot' was one of the first such hybrids that produced numerous, attractive, bright red spathes and a compact, well-branched growth habit (Henny 1999). Anthurium X 'Orange Hot' is a mutation found in a large population of tissue cultured, propagated A. 'Red Hot'.

Jianjun Chen, Dennis B. McConnell, Richard J. Henny, and Kelly C. Everitt

Richard J. Henny, Richard J. Henny, Jianjun Chen, andTerri A. Mellich

Anthurium X 'Red Hot' (Figure 1) is an interspecific hybrid developed by the Foliage Plant Breeding and Genetics Research Program at UF/IFAS Mid-Florida Research and Educational Center—Apopka as a flowering potted foliage plant. Anthurium (Anthurium andreanum Linden ex Andre (family: Araceae) has been traditionally developed and grown for cut flower production because of its showy red, orange, pink, or white spathes (Kamemoto and Kuehnle 1996). The large overall size, long petioles and peduncles on the cut flower selections generally preclude their use as container plants. Recently, new Anthurium varieties are being developed to emphasize a smaller overall plant size, a propensity to produce basal shoots and a highly prolific flowering habit. Such hybrids are readily adaptable for flowering pot plant production. Anthurium X 'Red Hot' is one such hybrid with numerous attractive, bright red spathes and a compact, well-branched growth habit.

David J. Norman, Gul Shad Ali, andGul Shad Ali

Edward F. Gilman, Keighly Graves, Wendy Wilber, Tom Wichman, Claire Lewis, Gail Hansen, andRyan Klein

Anthurium is a genus of tropical plants that generally have glossy heart-shaped leaves and showy flowers which bloom year-round and come in a variety of colors. Certain species may lack flowers and/or have more ornamental foliage. This is an excellent specimen or accent plant, may be utilized in containers or as a houseplant, or makes a statement when planted in mass.