Anthurium 'King of Spades'

🌿 The Anthurium crystallinum 'King of Spades' is a stunning velvet-leaf anthurium native to the rainforests of Central and South America, where it grows as an epiphyte on tree trunks and mossy rocks. This member of the Araceae family is prized for its deeply lobed, heart-shaped foliage with prominent silver veining that creates a crystalline effect against the dark green background. While it demands attention and patience, this plant rewards intermediate to advanced growers with its dramatic presence and unique texture. Fun fact: the common name comes from the leaf shape resembling a playing card spade, and those silvery veins are actually air pockets in the leaf tissue that help reflect light in the dim rainforest understory.
FOLIAGE AND GROWTH HABIT
This anthurium grows upright from a central stem, producing large, deeply lobed leaves that can reach 30-45 cm in length at maturity. The foliage emerges bronze-red before maturing to a deep emerald green with striking silver or white veining that appears to shimmer in changing light. Leaves have a thick, velvety texture that almost begs to be touched, with a substantial feel that sets them apart from thinner-leaved houseplants.
FLOWER DETAILS
The King of Spades produces typical anthurium inflorescences consisting of a pale green to cream-coloured spadix surrounded by a modest greenish-white spathe. While the flowers lack the vibrant colour of their Anthurium andraeanum cousins, they possess a subtle elegance and may appear sporadically throughout the year when the plant is mature and conditions are ideal. The flowers have little to no fragrance but add an interesting architectural element. Consistent warmth, humidity above 60%, and bright indirect light encourage blooming, though most growers treasure this plant primarily for its exceptional foliage rather than its flowers.
CARE INSTRUCTIONS
🌞 Light: Bright, indirect light for 6-8 hours daily. Direct sun will scorch the delicate leaves, but insufficient light reduces the intensity of the silver veining
💧 Water: Keep soil consistently moist but never soggy during spring and summer. Reduce watering in winter, allowing the top 3-5 cm to dry between waterings. Bottom watering or soaking methods work well to avoid water sitting on the velvety leaves
🌡️ Humidity: 60-80% humidity is essential. Lower humidity causes brown leaf edges and reduces leaf size
🪴 Soil: Chunky, well-draining mix with orchid bark, perlite, peat moss, and charcoal. The soil must stay aerated as roots need oxygen
🏺 Potting: Use a pot with drainage holes, sized just slightly larger than the root ball. Terra cotta helps prevent overwatering. Repot every 2-3 years in spring when roots emerge from drainage holes
🌱 Growth rate: Moderate to slow, producing 3-5 new leaves per year under ideal conditions. Plants can reach 60-90 cm tall over 3-5 years with proper care
👩‍🌾 Fertilizing: Feed monthly during spring and summer with diluted liquid fertilizer at half strength. Reduce to every 6-8 weeks in fall and winter
🐾 Pet friendly: No. Contains calcium oxalate crystals that are toxic to cats and dogs, causing mouth irritation, drooling, and digestive upset if ingested
WHERE TO PUT IT
This anthurium thrives in bathrooms with natural light, where shower steam provides the humidity it craves. It also does well in bright living rooms away from windows, or in bedrooms with a humidifier nearby. Group it with other tropical plants to create a microclimate that boosts ambient moisture. Avoid placing it near heating vents, air conditioners, or drafty windows, as temperature fluctuations and dry air will stress the plant and damage its foliage.