Anthurium Crystallinum and Anthurium Clarinervium are a remarkable duo that commands the attention of any room. Native to the humid forests of Central America, they boast impressive broad green leaves, stark veins, and a velvety surface.
Their beauty has led to an air of mystique around these tropical plants. They’re highly sought after as houseplants, although it’s notoriously difficult to replicate their native environment.
Although they are two separate species, these Anthuriums are almost impossible to tell apart at first glance. The most significant difference between Anthurium Crystallinum and Clarinervium is their leaves; Anthurium Crystallinum has light green, long oval-shaped leaves, while Clarinervium has bright green, wide heart-shaped leaves.
We’ll look at some of the other distinguishing characteristics of these two majestic and unique plants!
What is the Difference Between Anthurium Clarinervium and Anthurium Crystallinum?
Both Anthurium Clarinervium and Anthurium Crystallinum come from the Araceae family, which is native to the rainforests of Central America. They are closely related but display some subtle but significant differences.
Leaves
The leaves are the first and most obvious difference between these two Anthuriums. The Clarinervium has distinct short, heart-shaped leaves, while the Crystallinum has long, oval-shaped leaves.
Their leaf color is also slightly different. The Clarinervium has dark forest green leaves, whereas the Crystallinum has bright emerald green leaves.
Height
Anthurium Crystallinum has a faster growth rate than Anthurium Clarinervium and grows taller too. Crystallinum usually reaches a maximum height of 30 cm (11 inches) as an indoor plant but can reach heights of 90 cm (35 inches) in the wild!
Meanwhile, Clarinervium can reach a maximum height of 25 cm (9 inches) indoors and up to 50 cm (19 inches) in the wild! If you had these two plants side by side, the smaller of the two would generally be a Clarinervium.
Berries
When Anthurium plants mature, they begin to produce berries from between their tepals. Anthurium Clarinervium tends to produce more berries which are larger and orange in color. Anthurium Crystallinum produces fewer, smaller berries that are a deep violet color.
Anthurium Crystallinum vs. Clarinervium Care
Since both of these plants come from the same region and climate, they have similar needs. If you plan to add one or both of these beautiful plants to your collection, here’s what you need to know about their care.
Watering
You can water your Anthurium plants twice a week. You can increase this amount in the summer to three times a week to aid their growth. They can tolerate about 25% dry soil, so let the top layer dry out before watering.
Humidity
As rainforest plants, their humidity level must be between 70-80%. It can be challenging to get such high humidity levels in your home. One option is to give these plants their own humidifier. They should also be housed in a humid area of the home.
A bathroom will work if there’s enough light. A kitchen countertop near a dishwasher can also help provide humidity.
Soil
As humidity-loving plants, you must keep the soil evenly moist. They prefer loose, well-draining soil, so avoid clay-based soils. Potting soil combined with 1/3 perlite and 1/3 peat moss will help provide aeration and drainage.
Both plants prefer slightly acidic soil with a pH of around 6.0-7.0. Adding peat moss to the soil will help achieve this.
Light
Along with warm, humid temperatures, these plants love light! They can handle a little direct sunlight but mostly prefer indirect light. Set up your plant in an eastern-facing window to get a healthy mix of all types of light.
Should I Mist My Anthurium?
You can mist Anthurium Clarinervium and Anthurium Crystallinum plants once a day to help increase the humidity. But misting can only do so much. You can make a few simple changes in your home that will help these plants thrive long-term.
Run a humidifier near your plant for a couple of hours a day. This solution requires less effort than misting—just remember to refill the water chamber!
Air conditioners tend to dry out the air, so avoid keeping your plant in an air-conditioned room.
Another way to improve humidity is to house your plant pot on a saucer filled with rocks. You can then pour water into the saucer, rising towards your plant. Meanwhile, the stones prevent your plant from sitting directly in the water.
Is Anthurium Crystallinum an Epiphyte?
Both Anthurium Crystallinum and Anthurium Clarinervium are epiphytes. Epiphytes are a group of plants that grow on surfaces like trees, hills, and practically any moist area within reach. They climb onto these surfaces via their aerial roots, which also help them gather water.
When grown indoors, it’s rare for these plants to get big enough to climb or need a climbing aid like a moss pole. But in the wild, they’re commonly found clinging to the branches of trees!
Why is Anthurium Crystallinum So Expensive?
Species of Anthuriums like Crystallinum and Clarinervium are prized for their magnificent foliage. It’s easy to see why plant lovers would want these luscious plants in their collection.
But if you expect to see these plants at your local greenhouse, you’ll be disappointed. These are not widely available houseplants because they are difficult to care for.
They are also rare in the wild. Due to the time and effort it takes to find and cultivate them, they usually aren’t readily available to the public. If you want one of these Anthurium plants, you typically have to order one from a specialized dealer and expect to pay a premium!
Are There Different Types of Anthurium?
There are over 1000 species of Anthurium! They are generally divided into two classifications: flower Anthuriums and foliage Anthuriums. Flower Anthurium is prized for its beautiful flowers, whereas foliage Anthurium usually lacks beautiful flowers but has gorgeous and unique foliage.
One of the most popular and readily available varieties of Anthurium is Anthurium Andraeanum, also known as Painters-palette. This plant is native to Columbia and has beautiful, long-lasting red flowers.
One of the most sought-after of these rare plants is the Anthurium Luxurians. It’s adored for its shiny green and enormous leaves. Besides its need for high humidity, it is uniquely easy to take care of.
Anthurium Clarinervium Dark Form vs. Normal
Anthurium Clarinervium ‘dark form’ is a variant of the original Clarinervium. Anthurium Crystallinum also has a ‘dark form.’ But what does this mean exactly?
These ‘dark form’ variants are characterized by their black leaves and stems. This variation is purely aesthetic and does not change the care requirements of the plant. The terminology ‘dark form’ is generally used by growers and is not scientific.
FAQ
Why Are My Anthurium Leaves Curling?
The most common cause of curling leaves in any Anthurium plant is a lack of water. Usually, the plant will curl its leaves in an effort to conserve moisture.
Although they can handle dry soil for short periods, Anthuriums are still tropical plants with high moisture requirements.
If you let the soil dry out extensively, your plant’s leaves will continue to wilt and eventually drop off.
Does Crystallinum Like to Be Root Bound?
Anthurium Crystallinum grows slowly, so it doesn’t mind being root bound. You can re-pot this plant once its roots begin popping out from the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot.
You should only size up one pot size when you repot your Anthurium Crystallinum. Choose a pot that’s approximately 2 inches (5 cm) bigger in width than the current pot.
Beware that leaving your plant root bound for extended periods will begin to stunt the plant’s growth.
Summary
Though it can be challenging to get your hands on these two rare plants, their beautiful foliage certainly makes them worth the effort!
The most significant difference between Anthurium Crystallinum and Clarinervium is their leaves; Anthurium Crystallinum has light green elongated leaves, while Clarinervium has wider, heart-shaped leaves.
Anthurium Clarinervium also tends to grow shorter and has large orange berries. Anthurium Crystallinum, on the other hand, can grow to heights of 90 cm (35 inches) and produces beautiful violet berries.
Besides their aesthetic differences, these two plants have mainly the same care requirements. If you find one, just make sure you have a humidifier!