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Flamingo flower
Caution🐾Flamingoblume · (Anthurium andraeanum)
Arum family (Araceae)
Description
The glossy red, waxy spathe surrounding an upright, columnar spadix makes this Andean native of Colombia and Ecuador one of the world's most popular tropical houseplants and cut flowers. The Belgian botanist Édouard André introduced it to Western horticulture in 1876 and gave it his name. As a low-maintenance houseplant it tolerates medium light and, with good care, blooms almost year-round, with individual flowers lasting six to eight weeks on the plant. In producing regions such as Hawaii, Mauritius and the Netherlands it ranks among the most important cut flowers in international trade. WARNING: all plant parts contain calcium oxalate crystals and saponins. Ingestion causes immediate burning and swelling of the lips, tongue and throat along with increased salivation; skin contact with the sap can cause dermatitis. The plant is intended purely for ornamental use and must never be taken internally.
External use only!
This plant must NOT be taken internally. Use only as compress, salve, or bath.
The flamingo flower is cultivated worldwide as a popular houseplant and cut flower. Its glossy red — occasionally pink, white or green — modified leaf (spathe) with the columnar inflorescence (spadix) brings a tropical accent to interiors and is regarded in indoor plant psychology as a mood-enhancing element of urban living spaces.
As a low-maintenance houseplant, Anthurium andraeanum tolerates medium light, steady room temperatures above 18 degrees Celsius and moderate watering. Its blooms last six to eight weeks on the plant, making it a long-lasting decoration for living rooms and offices.
In the international cut-flower industry, the flamingo flower ranks among the most important tropical cut flowers. Hawaii, Mauritius and the Netherlands are leading producers; in the vase the bloom lasts four to six weeks, outlasting nearly every other standard cut flower.
Anthurium species were studied by NASA for their ability to absorb volatile organic compounds such as ammonia, formaldehyde, toluene and xylene from indoor air. The contribution of individual plants under real living conditions is modest, but they support a pleasant indoor climate through increased humidity.
Caution note: the plant sap contains calcium oxalate raphides and can cause skin irritation, redness and itching rashes on contact. When handling cut flowers, gloves should be worn — an ethnobotanical caution note, not a therapeutic indication.
In its native range of Colombia and Ecuador (the western flank of the Andes, Choco region), the flamingo flower is part of indigenous floristic traditions. It was introduced into Western horticulture by the Belgian botanist Édouard André in 1876 and named after him — the species epithet 'andraeanum' honours its collector.
⚠ External use only
All plant parts contain insoluble calcium oxalate raphides (needle-shaped crystals in specialised idioblast cells) plus Aroideae-typical saponins. On ingestion immediate burning and swelling of lips, tongue and throat occur, with increased salivation and difficulty swallowing. Skin contact with the plant sap can cause dermatitis. Never use internally.
No data on internal use in pregnancy — Anthurium andraeanum is not a medicinal plant. Wear gloves when handling cut stems.
No data on use during lactation; not for medicinal use.
Keep out of reach of small children. Ingestion of spathe or spadix causes intense oral burning, salivation and difficulty swallowing. After accidental ingestion, rinse the mouth with cold milk or water and contact a poison control centre.
Contraindications
- Do not use internally — all plant parts are toxic due to calcium oxalate raphides and Aroideae saponins.
- Avoid all skin contact with the sap if sensitivity to arum family (Araceae) plants is known.
- Households with cats, dogs or rodents: according to ASPCA, Anthurium is considered toxic to pets; keep out of reach or avoid altogether.
Harvested part: whole plant (decorative)
- Time of day:
- In commercial cut-flower production (Hawaii, Mauritius, Netherlands) the inflorescences are harvested year-round in heated glasshouses once the spathe is fully coloured and the spadix is two-thirds developed.
- Drying:
- Cut flowers are not dried but shipped fresh in water. Vase life four to six weeks at room temperature with daily water changes; cut stems diagonally with a sharp blade.
- Time of day:
- Repotting and division of the parent plant are best done in spring (March to May) as the plant enters its active growth phase. Work during the day at room temperature, gently loosen the root ball.
- Drying:
- Not used dried — exclusively as a living ornamental or cut flower. Wear gloves when repotting, as plant sap can irritate the skin.
- Calciumoxalat-RaphidenOtherWhole plant
Insoluble, needle-shaped calcium oxalate crystals in specialised idioblast cells throughout all plant parts. When bitten, the raphides are expelled under pressure and embed in oral mucosa — main cause of acute irritation symptoms.
- Anthurin (Aroideae-Saponine)SaponinWhole plant
Steroidal and triterpene saponins characteristic of Araceae. They contribute secondarily to mucosal irritation and likely act synergistically with calcium oxalate raphides.
- FlavonoideFlavonoidLeaf
Quercetin and kaempferol glycosides in the leaves; contribute to baseline antioxidant capacity, without pharmacological relevance in use.
- AnthocyaneFlavonoidFlower
Pelargonidin and cyanidin glycosides in the spathe are responsible for the red and pink hues. Cultivars bred in the Netherlands display the full range from deep red to white depending on the anthocyanin profile.
- Phenolische SäurenPhenolic acidLeaf
Caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid derivatives as secondary metabolites; contribute to the plant's defence against fungal and bacterial pathogens.
- Proanthocyanidine (Tannine)TanninLeaf
Condensed tannins in small amounts, predominantly in the leathery leaves — astringent, but of no relevance for internal use due to the dominant raphide toxicity.
- Ätherisches Öl (Spuren)Essential oilFlower
Traces of volatile compounds in the spadix; responsible for the weak, slightly sweet scent of the inflorescence that attracts pollinator insects in the native rainforest environment.
- [4]MonographAnthurium andraeanum Linden ex André — Plants of the World Online (Kew)(accessed: 2026-05-27)
- [5]MonographFlamingo Lily (Anthurium scherzeranum / andraeanum) — ASPCA Toxic Plants Database(accessed: 2026-05-27)
- [6]MonographAnthurium andraeanum — Royal Horticultural Society Plant Finder(accessed: 2026-05-27)
- [7]MonographInterior Landscape Plants for Indoor Air Pollution Abatement (NASA TM-101766)(accessed: 2026-05-27)
- [1]WikipediaAnthurium andraeanum (Wikipedia EN)(accessed: 2026-05-27)
- [2]WikipediaGroße Flamingoblume (Wikipedia DE)(accessed: 2026-05-27)
- [3]WikipediaAnthurium (Wikipedia EN)(accessed: 2026-05-27)
🪴 Grow at home
- ☀ Light
- bright, indirect
- 💧 Water
- weekly
- 🌱 Soil
- Orchid or aroid mix with a high proportion of coarse structural materials (perlite, bark compost)
- 🪴 Pot
- 15 cm
- ⭐ Difficulty
- ★★☆ intermediate
- 🐾 Pets
- toxic to pets
Tips:
- Flamingo flower is not frost-hardy and can only be kept as a houseplant in Central Europe and Bulgaria — temperatures below 15 °C inhibit growth and damage the plant.
- High humidity (60–80 %) promotes flowering and growth — regular misting or a nearby humidifier is recommended.
- Water only with low-lime water; waterlogging quickly leads to root rot.
- Indirect, bright light is ideal — direct sunlight scorches the spathes.
- Fertilise every 6–8 weeks during the growing season with liquid fertiliser for flowering plants.
Care tips are general indoor-gardening recommendations, not scientific sources.