The anthurium is native to Colombia and was first introduced to Trinidad and Tobago in 1915 by Eugene Andre. Our tropical conditions are ideal for the cultivation of anthuriums and locally it is one of the most commonly grown of the cut flowers. Anthuriums produce flowers throughout the year and an average of six to eight flowers per plant per year. The top of a tall plant is cut off with sufficient roots and planted.
Mature plants give off rhizomes, which produce aerial shoots near the mother plant.
These shoots can be cut and planted. The seeds germinate within two to eight weeks and plants that are propagated from seed take 12 to 18 months to flower after planting. Tissue Culture Plants can also be propagated by tissue culture. The University of the West Indies, St Augustine, propagates anthuriums by this method. The Plant Quarantine Department of the Ministry of Food Production allows only tissue cultured propagated anthurium plants to be imported into Trinidad and Tobago.