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Anthurium besseae
Besseae Anthurium
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Anthurium besseae Price Guide & Auction Value
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Before You Buy
Species-specific things to check when evaluating a listing
- Inspect new growth carefully for thrips — check the undersides of unfurling leaves for tiny dark insects or silvery streaking, as velvet anthuriums are a primary target
- Roots should be firm and pale — mushy or dark roots indicate rot often caused by poor transit conditions
- Avoid plants with more than one yellowing leaf; minor leaf loss in transit is normal but multiple yellows suggest stress before shipping
- Request a photo of the most recently unfurled leaf to judge current health — a crispy or damaged newest leaf is a red flag
Anthurium besseae Morphology
About Anthurium besseae
Anthurium besseae is a compact epiphytic Anthurium described by Croat, native to the cloud-influenced humid forests of Bolivia at montane elevations. It grows on trees in high-humidity environments, producing a dense crown of velvety, dark green leaves with contrasting pale venation and a distinctively narrow to moderate sinus. Short petioles keep the plant tightly formed, and it rarely exceeds a manageable size — making it ideal for cabinet and terrarium cultivation. Known from only limited localities in Bolivia, it remains one of the more challenging velvet anthuriums to source legitimately, and it commands serious attention among dedicated collectors.
Native Range
Bolivia
Propagation Guide
How to Propagate Anthurium besseae
Root in a closed high-humidity environment. Mature specimens may produce basal offshoots that can be carefully divided. Patience is essential — establishment is slow.
Care Guide
Anthurium besseae Care Guide & Growing Conditions
Very chunky, well-aerated mix: 40% orchid bark, 30% perlite, 20% sphagnum moss, 10% activated charcoal. Anthuriums suffocate in dense soil — roots need airflow.
Water when the substrate is nearly dry throughout. Less is more — overwatering is the primary killer of velvet anthuriums. Always use room-temperature water.
70–85% is essential. Below 60% causes stunted growth and curling leaves. A dedicated humidifier is strongly recommended for UK growers.
Low-nitrogen fertiliser (e.g. 5-10-10 or orchid fertiliser) at quarter strength every 3–4 weeks. High nitrogen produces lush but weak growth susceptible to pests.
Reluctantly — only when completely root-bound (every 2–3 years). These plants dislike disturbance and may sulk after repotting.
Common Problems
Yellowing leaves
Overwatering or root rot
Remove from pot, trim affected roots, repot into fresh dry substrate and reduce watering
Curling or crispy leaf edges
Low humidity or cold draughts
Increase humidity above 70% and move away from cold windows
Thrips
Common on velvet-leaf anthuriums; hard to detect early
Inspect new growth and leaf undersides regularly; treat with neem oil or systemic insecticide at first sign
Bolivia's Contribution to the Velvet Conversation
Thomas Croat described Anthurium besseae from Bolivian specimens, and it has taken some years to establish itself meaningfully in European cultivation. A compact species with heavily velvety leaves in deep forest green, the surface texture is comparable to the velvet anthuriums most collectors covet — warocqueanum, crystallinum — but the growth habit is sufficiently compact for smaller set-ups, which is an underrated virtue. Price is commensurate with genuine rarity rather than tissue-culture-fuelled hype. If you have been spending on warocqueanum and wondering what comes next, this is a sound answer.
