Caladiums are tropical perennials with colorful, heart-shaped leaves that are endemic to wet and dry tropical forests in South and Central America. Caladium bicolor, a Brazilian plant, is the most common of several decorative species of the genus Caladium in the arum family (Araceae). This species (also described as C. x hortulanum) has thousands of identified cultivars, but other species and hybrids are occasionally accessible. They are easy to cultivate as summer “bulbs” or houseplants, even though they are only hardy to zones 9 and 10.
Other popular names for caladium are angels wings and elephant ears (but don’t mix them with other plants with the common name elephant ears, such as Alocasia, Colocasia, and Xanthosoma).
This is a “old-fashioned” shrub with striking leaves that has been cultivated in Europe since the late 1700s. The leaves have strongly colored midribs, contrasting borders, and mottled, veined, and striped patterns in varying colors of green, white, pink, rose, and/or red. The leaves are carried on long petioles that emerge directly from the underground tuber; there are no stems.
The fancy-leaved kinds, with their huge, heart-shaped or semi-heart-shaped leaves on long petioles (12 to 30 inches tall), are more compact than the strap- or lance-leaved types, which have shorter and narrower, ruffle-edged leaves on short petioles (usually less than 12 inches tall). The fancy-leaved forms have more leaves per tuber than the lance-leaved types (derived from C.picturantum).
Caladiums can bloom, producing a single (rarely 2-3) characteristic arum-type flower with a green or pinkish spathe encircling a short white spadix, despite being grown as foliage plants. White berries with a few to many seeds make up the fruits. Most people remove the inflorescence because it depletes the plant’s energy, which could otherwise be utilized to grow more leaves or a larger tuber.
Caladiums can be used to give color and texture to shadow gardens as well as deck and patio pots.
For maximum impact, plant them in realistic clusters of a single cultivar, or mix and match for a multi-colored effect in smaller spaces. To create colorful fountains, combine them with ferns, astilbe, and shade-tolerant iris, or intersperse them with other shade-loving plants. Impatiens or fuchsias with flowers in similar or contrasting colors are a good match.
Choose coleus or begonia varieties that compliment each other for a season-long display of color and texture in the leaf. As a stunning specimen plant and focal point in a flower bed, use a single, big plant in a raised pot or urn. Combine caladium with green or black elephant ears for a tropical appearance. The lance-leaved varieties are ideal for window boxes and smaller containers. In fresh flower arrangements, chopped leaves can keep for several days.
Caladiums have a tuberous corm that they grow from. Tubers come in a variety of sizes dependent on their diameter. The more leaf buds a tuber has, the more foliage it produces, hence bigger tubers yield more foliage. A huge, center bud is surrounded by multiple tiny buds on each tuber (eyes). The greatest leaves will come from the central bud, but it will also prevent the smaller buds from sprouting. By gouging off the main, center bud with the tip of a sharp knife, you can stimulate the small buds to grow and create more slightly smaller leaves. Just make sure you don’t hurt any of the nearby little buds.
Start caladium tubers inside 4-6 weeks before the average last frost date in the Midwest, or buy potted plants. Place the knobby side of the tuber with the eyes up (both roots and shoots come from the top of the tuber) and just cover it with dirt. Keep the container in a brightly lit, warm area (70°F or higher). After the final frost, move the growing plants outside either in pots above ground or buried into the earth, or transplant into the ground so the tuber is 11/2″- 2 deep. Because they prefer a wet, rich, light, and well-drained soil, most soils should be amended with plenty of compost or other organic material. It is frequently preferable to keep them in containers rather than planting them in the ground in locations with heavy soils.
Low temperatures will injure tubers and plants, and plants will not grow much until temps warm up, so don’t rush to move them out. They thrive in soil temperatures of at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and planting them in chilly soil will cause the tubers to rot. Because high soil temperatures alter leaf color, plants in hot regions should be mulched to keep soil temperatures below 85°F.
Traditional varieties thrive in part-shade conditions. They will grow in full shade, but their vitality and color will suffer. Many newer, sun-resistant types, especially in cooler, northern climates, may be grown in part to full sun. Ensure that the soil is kept evenly moist but not damp throughout the growing season.
Caladiums are heavy feeders and, especially in containers, require regular fertilizing during the growing season. Because too much nitrogen can damage leaf color, choose a low-nitrogen or balanced formulation.
Caladiums thrive in the hot, humid summer months, but when the weather cools, they begin to droop and lose leaves. Tubers must be brought in before the first frost in temperate zones if they are to be retained during the winter (or before soil temperatures drop below 55oF). Lift any tubers in the ground, remove most of the soil, and dry for a week in a warm, shady location before cutting off the leaves and storing for up to five months in dry sphagnum moss or a mesh bag in mild temperatures (55-60oF). Tubers in containers can be carried inside for the winter and left undisturbed in the pots. As the leaves die back, allow the growing media to dry up. The containers can be kept in either light or darkness, but the temperature should never go below 55 degrees Fahrenheit. When new growth sprouts in the spring, start watering again.
As a houseplant, give a warm environment with plenty of humidity and bright but indirect light. Caladiums will go dormant after a few months in leaf, even if they are grown inside. Stop watering them when their leaves begin to wilt. Allow the plant to rest before watering it again after new growth appears.
Caladiums are mostly pest-free, especially in the north. Tuber rot, which can occur in storage or after planting, is most common in cool weather and can be avoided by following proper storage and planting techniques. Too much sun, not enough water, or fertilizer sitting on the leaves causes leaf burn or scorch on thin-leaved varieties. Caladiums can be propagated by separating tubers in the spring before potting them up. Allow the tuber to dry for a few days to callous over before planting; cut the tuber into pieces that have at least one eye or knob. If enough of the plant is consumed, it is poisonous, and handling the plants can irritate the skin of sensitive people.
Caladium cultivars come in thousands of varieties; these are only a few of the most popular.
Where do caladiums grow best?
Caladiums thrive in shaded areas of the yard and garden. They thrive in full to partial shade in southern climates. Most caladiums can be grown in the sun in northern climates if they are given enough water and their leaves are shaded during the warmest portion of the day.
What is caladium good for?
This is a shade-loving plant, so it’s perfect for shady gardens, yards, patios, and even within the home. These plants do not succumb to significant diseases or insect infestations when properly cared for. The leaves are delicate, but if kept out of the wind and sun, they will grow. Caladiums are popular as annual plants.
Do caladiums come back year after year?
Caladiums are perennial plants that grow from bulbs and can be replanted each year. They are generally treated as annuals because they are short-lived as perennials and do not endure cold conditions.
How long will caladiums last?
Caladium is a South American native that thrives inside in indirect light, giving it a stunning tropical accent for any house. The flashy season is expected to extend 6 months or longer. Caladiums thrive in warm, humid environments.
Are caladium plants poisonous?
Caladium species include Caladium bicolor, Caladium x candidum, Caladium x Mrs W.B. Halderman, and Caladium humboldtii. Botanical name: Caladium species include Caladium bicolor, Caladium x candidum, Caladium x Mrs W.B. Halderman, Caladium humboldtii, Caladium humboldtii,
This species is a beautiful house plant that is occasionally planted in the garden but dies down in the winter.
Large, heart-shaped leaves with strong veins that are sometimes variegated with red, pink, white, or green leaves.
If chewed or swallowed, all components of the plant are hazardous. A severe burning sensation, excessive salivation, swelling of the lips, mouth, tongue, and throat, as well as significant gastric irritation, are all symptoms. Dermatitis, acute itching, and burning have all been reported as side effects of the sap.
Is caladium an outdoor plant?
Caladiums are tropical plants that come in a wide range of colors and patterns. They are native to the Amazon River’s banks in South America. Caladiums look great in pots, hanging baskets, and landscape mass plantings. Red, pink, and white are the primary hues, and each variety of Caladium has its own distinct and interesting color combination of two or more of these colors.
Where to plant caladiums
Caladiums grow well outside in the summer and offer a luxuriant, exotic accent to your yard or garden. The majority of Caladiums prefer to grow in the shadow or partial shade, however certain kinds are more sun resistant (see the caladium catalog page) and can be planted in places with little shade. They’re a terrific way to brighten up shady spots. They’re frequently utilized as border plants, along the sides of houses, or in flowerbeds. They make beautiful patio container plants and can also be utilized in window boxes.
When to Plant Caladium Bulbs
Caladiums are tropical tubers that need to be kept warm to thrive. It is crucial to wait until your soil temperature reaches or exceeds 70 degrees Fahrenheit before planting your caladiums. Germination will be greatly delayed if the weather is cool. On the map on the left, you can see the recommended planting date for your area.
Are caladiums hard to care for?
Tender tubers and bulbs must be lifted in the fall to avoid being killed by frost. Caladium tubers are frost fragile, and if exposed to cold, they will perish. As a result, they must be taken indoors in northern latitudes, and even in milder climates, they will normally die back in the winter. This is all well and good, but the tubers that produce the foliage require some rest. Caladiums are popular indoor plants among gardeners. Caladium care indoors requires some additional guidelines to keep the plants healthy and the tubers safe.
Plants that grow in areas with cold winters could be grown in containers to make it easier to bring them inside when the weather turns chilly. Caladiums are difficult to grow as indoor plants because they require high humidity, which is difficult to provide in warm home interiors.
Caladium plants also only produce leaves from spring to fall, and then require a five-month rest time to recharge and sprout again in spring. You can prolong the foliar display by putting containers indoors, but the leaves will eventually die back and the tuber will become dormant until the weather warms again.
Bringing plants indoors in containers will maintain the tubers and protect them from damage during the winter months when they are exposed to the elements.
Do caladiums like to be wet?
The optimal lighting is indirect light in part shade, however some newer varieties can handle more sun.
Caladiums are beautiful subtropical bulbs with multicolored leaves. The plants can grow up to 3 feet tall, however the majority of varieties are only 1 to 2 feet tall and wide. USDA zones 8 through 11 are suitable for caladiums. In frost-free climates, certain bulbs, like dahlias and canna lilies, can overwinter in the ground, but in most areas, you’ll have to dig them up and store them for the winter.
Caladiums are an excellent choice for shade gardens and containers. Caladiums brighten up a foliage garden with their colorful leaves, which don’t require a lot of sun to flower and grow best in the shadow. They also thrive in containers and hanging baskets on a deck or patio, where they may be admired up close.
There are several variations available, each with various colored leaves and plant sizes. The leaves of most types are multicolored. Many have leaves that are crimson, pink, white, or burgundy in hue, with green or white edges. Color patterns vary with variation, as they do with coleus, with no two varieties, or even plants, looking alike. The taller strap leaf kinds are more sun tolerant than the fancy leaf varieties, which prefer filtered sunshine.
Caladium bulbs should be planted in late spring, when all dangers of frost have passed and the soil has warmed up to roughly 60 degrees Fahrenheit and dried up. Caladium bulbs can perish in cold, damp soils. Bulbs should be planted in a filtered sun area with well-drained soil. If the soil remains too damp, consider planting in a raised bed or in containers.
Bulbs should be planted in groups of 2 inches deep and 8 to 12 inches apart. Caladiums prefer damp soil, so add organic matter to the soil and keep it regularly watered. Taller types with larger leaves should be planted near a building, wall, or other plants to shield them from summer breezes.
Because the container will be warmer and you will be fertilizing more frequently than in the ground, you can plant early in moistened potting soil and closer together in containers or hanging baskets.
Caladiums thrive in partial shade, moist soil, and warm air temps. They’ve evolved to thrive in the hot, humid Southeast. Fertilize caladiums in the ground with a balanced organic product like 5-5-5 once a month. With each watering, apply a diluted fertilizer to containers.
Yellowing leaves should be deadheaded. If several of your leaves are yellowing, the soil in that area may be too damp. You may also utilize healthy leaves in flower arrangements by pinching them.
Caladium soil should be kept damp but not wet. Mulch sandy areas to keep soil water levels up.
Dig up your caladium bulbs and store them for the winter in all except frost-free places after the temperatures drop consistently below 60F and the leaves begin to die back in the fall. Allow the tubers to dry in a warm area for several days, out of direct sunlight. Then keep them in bags or boxes filled with slightly damp peat moss in a cool, 35F to 45F environment.
Caladiums can also be grown as houseplants in containers indoors throughout the winter. In the summer, move them outside to refresh the bulb.
If not grown in severe, sunny, and windy conditions, caladiums are generally carefree plants. Poor soil water drainage is a common cause of caladium disease. If you fix that, the problems are less likely to occur.
Caladiums may also be enjoyed by insects and animals. The leaves may be eaten by aphids, caterpillars, and slugs. Spray aphids with insecticidal soap, caterpillars with Bacillus thuriengensis (Bt), and slugs and snails with beer traps and organic slug baits. To prevent slugs from entering the pot, apply copper flashing around the container’s edge.
Deer and rabbit will eat leaves from time to time. Animal repellents like garlic, rotten eggs, dried blood, and cayenne pepper are effective at keeping these pests away.
Caladiums are excellent shade garden plants and attractive container plants. Combine them with other shade-loving plants like begonias, hosta, ferns, astilbe, elephant ears, and coleus in a shade garden.
Mix several caladium species together in containers to create a beautiful combination. To complement the caladium leaf hues, add painted ferns, asparagus fern, impatiens, Rex begonias, and coleus.
Caladium variations come in hundreds of distinct types. Try ‘Carousel,’ an 18-inch tall plant with green foliage splashed with white and crimson. On a short plant, ‘Puppy Love’ features red, strap-like leaves. Another red variant with green leaf edges is ‘Red Hot.’ It thrives in both the sun and the shade. The leaves of ‘Allure’ are white with green veins. ‘Sweet Carolina’ boasts red, green, and white leaves on 3-foot-tall plants.