My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Anthurium - Anthurium, Tailflower, painters palette, Flamingo flower

Anthurium

The Floral Trends Design Group Old and New Demonstration

Common name

Anthurium, Tailflower, painters palette, Flamingo flower

Origin

Central and South America. Most species occur in Panama, Colombia, Brazil, Guiana Shield and Ecuador.

Varieties

More than 800 species are documented of which approximately 200 varieties are available in the cut flower industry.

Colors

There are several hundreds of colours available, including bi-colours and novelties. Anthuriums grown for the florist trade generally have a coloured spathe and spadix. The spadix can be white, green, purple, pink or a combination. The spathe may be single coloured- white, yellow, green. or multicoloured including burgundy and pure red. Anthurium berries range from red to black and may also be bi-coloured or shaded.

Vase life

Ranging from seven to twenty (or more!) days.

Scent

The flowers give off a variety of fragrances, each attracting a variety of specific pollinators

Uses

I enjoy using the glossy green foliage and the beautiful almost red roots in designs. The flowers are thirsty and prefer larger tubes or vases. I love the miniature Anthuriums.

Conditioning

Give the stem a fresh cut removing about four centimeters and place in deep fresh water and flower food.

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Related Designs

17 January 2024 A birch bark spiral wrap to cradle floral details in a wine glass

Spiral birch bark strips into two mirror images to create a wintery wrap for a bud vase.

17 January 2024 Wave Wrap

Roll birch bark into a double spiral to cradle some perfect flowers to admire all winter.

15 February 2023 Blossom Twig Heart Frame… with a twist in the middle

Curve and tie a blossoming twig into a heart... that can suspend a heavy flower head.

15 February 2023 If you frame it that way…

A blossom frame to display the prettiest anthurium of the whole bunch!

16 September 2020 Peg a wreath to the edge of a container

Another version of a design idea I showed you last month... A vine wreath armature to balance a dramatic single stem anthurium. Only this time I take it a bit further.

16 September 2020 The circle of making new things:

A wreath armature design for early Autumn... this takes the split armature Tutorial I showed you last month a little bit further.

3 June 2020 Craft a sturdy “that should be impossible” grid to support even heavier flowers

Using the same flower stems, only dry, to craft a grid for the same flowers stems, only fresh

3 June 2020 As if by magic

An impossibly delicate looking way to securely keep flowers in place over a clear container.

22 March 2017 Biomimicry Demonstration and Workshop at the Floral Trends Design Group, South African Flower Union

Looking at how we emulate nature’s best biological ideas to solve our modern day design problems.

22 March 2017 Biomimicry

A design demonstration and workshop at the Floral Trends Design group in South Africa exploring how we emulate nature’s best biological ideas to solve our modern day design...

12 August 2015 Catch of the Day

Weave a loose basket to display a single flower... or three

28 January 2015 In a State of Flow

weave some willow to use as an armature

14 January 2015 Take a load off

Weave slippers from foliage

10 December 2014 Let It Snow

Use floral foam to create a pine needle cube

22 October 2014 Stand Around

Fold and roll leaves to create an Autumn swirl

23 July 2014 Chain of Thought

Knot small stems into decorative chain garlands

22 February 2012 Nuts and Bolts of Floral Art Mechanics

My design entered for evaluation at the Floral Trends Design Group meeting in South Africa

4 April 2011 Floral Trends Design Group Opening Demonstration: 2010

A look at the Old and New of Floral art