The anthurium originates from Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia and Venezuela. The French botanist Eduard André discover the flower in Colombia and Ecuador in 1876. In the wild, Gloriosa – a cousin of the lily family – clambers upwards in India and southern Africa. The official name is Gloriosa rothschildiana, named after zoologist Lionel Rothschild. Strelitzia originates from South Africa, and was transported to many countries in the 18th century. That’s also how it acquired its name: the wife of the English King George III, Charlotte of Meckelenburg-Strelitz, had a great love for flowers and plants,  and so this remarkable flower was named after her.

COLOURS AND SHAPES OF STRELITZIA, GLORIOSA AND ANTHURIUM

Did you know that the anthurium’s flower is actually the spike (the ‘finger’ sticking out of the bract) and not the brightly coloured bract itself? But secretly we all love the bract. This comes in gleaming white, red, pink, purple, orange, green and multiple colours. Gloriosa combines a delicate fresh green stem with elegant chartreuse yellow stamens that dance at the bottom (!). Above that grow six undulating flaming petals which open out to you during the flowering. There are two types: short with a bare stem, and a bit taller with leaves and branches. Strelitzia’s simple stem bearing a comb made up of elegant open orange sepals with two or three blue petals ensures that you are not likely to overlook this beauty.

 

CARING FOR STRELITZIA, GLORIOSA AND ANTHURIUM

• Trim the stem diagonally with a sharp knife.
• Use a clean (glass) vase and fill it with approx. 7 cm of tap water at room temperature. Use cut flower food for a mixed bouquet.
• Ensure the right ambient temperature (max. 20 °C).
• Do not place exotics in a draught, in full sun or near central heating.
• Regularly top the vase up with tap water.
  

 

SYMBOLISM OF STRELITZIA, GLORIOSA AND ANTHURIUM

Thanks to its appearance and origin, the anthurium symbolises exotic beauty. The name anthurium is derived from the Greek words ‘anthos’ and ‘oura’, which mean ‘flowering’ and ‘tail’.
The Gloriosa’s flowers represent ambition and success: the ideal gift for someone starting a new job or experiencing new beginning in some other way.
Strelitzia is seen as the flower of freedom, and also represents immortality. This special symbolism deserves a good story to go with it.