How To Tell Apart Anthurium clarinervium from Anthurium magnificum

How To Tell Apart Anthurium clarinervium from Anthurium magnificum

Are you new to rare plants and having a bit of a hard time identifying between different species while on your own plant-collecting journey? Don’t despair! With time, practice and exposure, you will be able to differentiate between many plants like a pro! In this article, you will learn how to differentiate Anthurium clarinervium from Anthurium magnificum. Impact-Site-Verification: 1233494459

Plant Identification

So what physical characteristics should you look for when identifying plants? Here are some basic traits that you should observe and make note of:

  • Leaf shape
  • Color and markings
  • Venation
  • Petiole features
  • Texture
  • Growth pattern
  • Inflorescences

We’re going to keep it simple and avoid the scientific, overly-technical jargon. If you want to get into the nitty-gritty of botanical morphology and identification, I would recommend doing your own research or taking botany classes.

Anthurium clarinervium


Anthurium clarinervium and Anthurium magnificum are both species of flowering plants that belong to the genus Anthurium. Both species are known for their attractive foliage, making them very popular in the horticultural trade. However, there are some key differences between the two species that set them apart and allow them to be distinguished from one another.

Photo by Sanni Sahil on Unsplash

Anthurium clarinervium is an aroid that is native to the rainforests of Mexico and Central America. This species is known for its thick, dark green leaves that can grow up to 10 inches long. The leaves are distinctly heart-shaped, very stiff, and have a velvety surface. The most distinctive feature of this species are the prominent white veins on the leaves, which gives them a crisp “veiny” appearance. The species name “clarinervium” refers to these clear or prominent veins. The green petioles are round, smooth and tend to be long and lanky.

The red-purple blushed spadix of Anthurium clarinervium.
The red-purple blushed spadix of Anthurium clarinervium.
Orange berries of Anthurium clarinervium.
Orange berries of Anthurium clarinervium.

The inflorescence (but primarily the spadix) of Anthurium clarinervium is blushed red-purple in color. Orange berries will form after successful pollination.

Photo by feey on Unsplash

Anthurium clarinervium is considered a slow-growing plant with a clumping growth habit. It may take quite a bit of time for it to reach its full size, which is about 2-3 feet (0.6-1 meters) tall and wide.

Photo by feey on Unsplash

Anthurium magnificum

Jerzy Opioła, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Anthurium magnificum, on the other hand, is a larger, more robust aroid species that can grow up to 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall in its native habitat. This species is native to the rainforests of Colombia, and is known for its large, velvety green leaves that can grow up to 20-24 inches (50-60 cm) long. Indoors, the leaves may stay a more manageable 10-12 inches (25-30 cm) in length. The leaves are typically elliptical in shape, and generally more elongated than Anthurium clarinervium.

Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Anthurium magnificum leaves are dark green with veins that are generally less prominent and vivid than Anthurium clarinervium. However, this can vary between plants and in their stages of maturity.

The quadrangular or D-shaped petioles of Anthurium magnificum.
The quadrangular or D-shaped petioles of Anthurium magnificum.

They have quadrangular (squarish) or D-shaped leaf petioles instead of smooth, rounded ones.

The inflorescences of Anthurium magnificum are also larger than those of Anthurium clarinervium, and typically have a greenish-white spadix. Red berries form after successful pollination. Anthurium magnificum is a much faster-growing plant and can reach its full size relatively quickly in ideal conditions.

In summary, Anthurium clarinervium and Anthurium magnificum are both beautiful and popular species of anthuriums. While they share some similarities in terms of their velvety green leaves and striking venation, they also have distinct differences in terms of their leaf and petiole shape, size, and the color of their berries after pollination has been achieved.

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Final Thoughts

In conclusion, I hope this short, concise identification guide helps you determine the differences between Anthurium clarinervium from Anthurium magnificum in your own plant collecting journey. While they are both similar in appearance, careful observation .

Or, if all this plant identification stuff sounds too hard, don’t worry, there is another solution. With the advancement of technology, you can use a smartphone app to identify plants. On the other hand, it’s always impressive being able to identify plants on your own without the help of technology. Rattle off some scientific names and your friends and family members will be amazed!

Always Keep Growing,

Heather (a.k.a. The Botanical Chick)

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