Anthurium hookeri
St. Lucia to northern South America.
First described by Karl Sigismund Kunth. (1841)
Long leathery strap leaves held in a nest-like rosette; mature plants may produce showy infructescences with pale to coloured berries depending on form.
Large bird’s-nest epiphyte forming a central rosette that collects leaf litter and moisture in nature.
Named for William Jackson Hooker.
Accepted Anthurium species. POWO lists it as an epiphyte from the wet tropical biome. Plants sold as “hookeri” may sometimes be other bird’s-nest Anthuriums, so exact trade plants should be photo-checked.
Give bright to medium filtered light, warmth, and a coarse mix. Keep evenly watered but never swampy; wipe dust from the broad leaves.
Repot only when needed into a chunky bark/perlite/coco or similar aroid mix. Keep the crown above the mix and avoid oversized pots.
Monthly at quarter to half strength during active growth. Flush occasionally if using mineral fertiliser.
- Misidentification in the plant trade; root rot in dense soil; brown tips from salts, underwatering, or low humidity.
- Bird’s-nest Anthuriums are built like natural catch-basins, collecting organic debris around the crown in the wild.