Planting DesignDiscover the right plants for your garden.
2025 Caladium of the yr : Heart to Heart ® ' blush Bride ' ( Caladium hortulanum ) . Photo by : Proven Winners .
With exuberant multicolored leaves , many larger than the palm of your hand , caladiums have become one of the most pop leafage plants for shady or semi - fly-by-night gardens — with many late debut being sun tolerant . Each folio seems to be hand paint with prominent combination of fleeceable , white , pinkish , and ruddy . Although these tropical South American natives thrive in hot , humid atmospheric condition , they can be grown as summertime bulbs in more temperate climates , or even as houseplant cave in the correct condition . With a little pampering , these alien nuance dwellers create a glorious showing rival that of any flowering plant .
2025 Caladium of the Year:
Heart to Heart ® ' crimson Bride ' .
On this page : Basics|Growing Tips|Care and Maintenance|Care and Maintenance|Pictures|Design Ideas
On this page :
BASICS
Botanical name:
Caladium bicolor , syn . Caladiumxhortulanum
Common names:
Caladium , holy person wings , andelephant ears(a name shared by several different species of large - leaf tropic plants )
Plant type:
Tuberous tropical perennial
Zones:
Perennial in zone 9 - 11 ; can be grown as an yearly or houseplant elsewhere .
Height:
18 to 24 inches ; gnome forms under 12 " are also available .
Season of interest:
From June until frost .
Leaf types:
caladium are divided into two main leaf types :
Although the leaves of both types tend to be thin and slight , some novel diverseness , such asProven Winners ’ Heart to Heart ™ line , have been bred to have thicker leaf , making them more sun liberal and repellent to shoot down .
Toxicity:
All parts of the flora are venomous if ingested . Keep out of compass of pets and children . Sap from the leaves or stem can also get minor skin irritation .
picture by : Proven Winners .
PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS
What to plant:
In late spring , you may buy potted caladiums at local nursery or spring up them yourself from genus Tuber . Tubers more often than not come in three size : medium ( No . 2 ) , magnanimous ( No . 1 ) , and jumbo . Larger tubers typically produce more leaves and gain maturity faster , which is an asset if you have a short grow season .
Where to plant:
percolate sun or shade , with the exception of new variety that can tolerate more sun . The leaf colors are often more vibrant when develop in shade . Because of the large folio , locate flora in a fleck sheltered from strong nothingness to avert damage .
Soil:
industrial plant in a moist , rich , well - drained grime amend by compost or other organic matter .
When to plant:
Because caladium are natives of the tropics , they thirst heat and will only flourish in warm gentle wind and soil temperatures . hold back until day temperatures are 70 ° to 85 ° F and nighttime temperature ride out above 60 ° F. bet on your growing zona , this can be as too soon as mid - March ( zone 9 - 11 ) or as late as mid - June ( zone 3 - 4 ) . In northern expanse of the country , caladiums often do good in containers because the filth warm up faster .
How to plant:
If growing from tubers , embed them in garden beds about 1½ to 2 inches deep with the pointed end ( stem ) pointing up . Space plant about 8 to 12 inch asunder , free-base on their sizing at maturity date . In cool clime , you’re able to start Tuber indoors in former spring , using methods interchangeable to those recommended fortuberous begonias .
If implant potted caladiums , acclimate them to outdoor circumstance before putting them in the ground .
CALADIUM CARE
Watering:
Provide enough moisture throughout the growing time of year to keep the soil equally moist . If you allow the grunge to dry out out , the leave may yellow and dangle . put on a layer of mulch around your plants to avail keep on moisture .
Fertilizing:
caladium do n’t ask a raft of plant food , and using too much can burn the leaves . The horticulturists at Proven Winners commend using a controlled - release fertilizer at 1/4 posture of what you would unremarkably use for flower industrial plant . Liquid fertilizer may also be used .
Overwintering:
In warmer clime ( Zone 9 or higher ) , tubers will go sleeping and the foliage will die back . Simply abbreviate the leaf to the ground and leave the tuber in the primer coat . In colder climates ( zona 8 or below ) , you must dig them up in the fall before frost if you need to replant them the undermentioned spring . When the leave of absence break down course in the autumn , allow the territory to dry out out , then dig up the tubers and store them in a dry location no cooler than 65 ° F.
Propagation:
watershed tubers in spring after bringing them out of winter storage . Cut each tuber into modest pieces that bear at least one “ oculus " or knob from which new outgrowth will start . Allow the cutting art object to dry for a daylight before planting .
GROWING INDOORS
Where to grow:
This is the arrant houseplant for warm suite with sauna - corresponding conditions , such as bathrooms , sunshine room , and sun parlour . Avoid exposing to drafts and temperature fluctuation . When summertime get in , you could move your pots alfresco to a funny porch or terrace .
Light:
Provide at least 4 hour of filtered sunlight from a burnished southward , east , or west window . Too much sun photograph can stimulate scorched leaf .
Water requirements:
Keep the ground evenly moist , but appropriate it to dry out when the leave of absence bulge to die back in declination . ( Even indoors , caladiums will introduce a seasonal dormancy period . ) you may resume tearing when newfangled emergence starts .
Temperature and humidity:
Between 60 ° to 65 ° F at night and 70 ° to 75 ° F during the twenty-four hours . farm in a high - wet surround or practice a humidifier to increase moisture levels . Frequent misting can also facilitate boost humidness .
CALADIUM VARIETIES
picture by : Proven Winners
center to Heart ® ' Lemon Blush'—Buy now from Proven WinnersCaladium hortulanum
15 to 20 inches
Spread:
10 to 14 inches
Exposure:
Sun or shade
Why we love it:
A fancy - leaf salmagundi with a new look — a blush wine - red center and wide pea green margins .
Good companions:
Pair with Proven Accents ® Sweet Caroline Kiwi and Hippo ® Red polka Elvis plant .
2024 National Caladium of the Year
Heart to Heart ® ' Scarlet Flame'—Buy now from Proven WinnersCaladium hortulanum
8 to 10 inches
Vivid cerise strap - leaves are invest with pinkish and white speckles and a brilliant green margin . make an first-class edge industrial plant in the landscape painting or houseplant .
Combine with Sunstar ® Red pentas for a red - focussed container combination . ( see thiscontainer recipefrom Proven Winners ) .
2023 National Caladium of the Year
Heart to Heart ® ' Raspberry Moon'—Buy now from Proven WinnersCaladium hortulanum
Part shade to shadow
This award - gain fancy - leaf form features dark green and raspberry pink splodge over a unclouded unripened to white-livered desktop . Also adaptable as a houseplant .
Combine with ColorBlaze ® Lime Time ® coleus and Proven Accents ® Sweet Caroline Raven ™ sweet potato vine ( see thiscontainer recipefrom Proven Winners ) .
2022 National Caladium of the twelvemonth
Heart to spirit ® ' White Wonder'—Buy now from Proven WinnersCaladium bicolor
An award - winning strap - leaf form with elegant snowy leafage outlined with green edges . Makes an excellent mete works in the landscape painting .
Combine with Heart to Heart ™ ' Heart and Soul ' caladium , Iranian shield , and snake plant for a colorful foliage combination ( see thiscontainer recipefrom Proven Winners ) .
2021 National Caladium of the Year
bosom to Heart ® ' crimson Bride'—Buy now from Proven WinnersCaladium hortulanum
middling frilly , deep - pink leaf have green bound and white veining . make an fantabulous molding plant in the landscape or houseplant .
2025 National Caladium of the Year
Heart to Heart ® ' Bottle Rocket'—Buy now from Proven WinnersCaladium bicolor
A sun - tolerant variety with showy reddish - pink veining , ashen panes , and green margin .
The dainty livid flowers ofEuphorbiaDiamond Snow ™ ( see thiscontainer recipefrom Proven Winners ) .
Heart to Heart ® ' Heart and Soul'—Buy now from Proven WinnersCaladium bicolor
8 to 10 inch
Another shoulder strap - leaf mixed bag , that brings a big biff of color and contrast to sunny or shady beds , boundary line , and baskets .
Heart to Heart ™ ' White Wonder ' , Persian shield andsnake plant(see thiscontainer recipefrom Proven Winners . )
Heart to Heart ® Dawn to crepuscle ™ —Buy now from Proven WinnersCaladium bicolor
Full to partial tad
A fancy - leaf form with red and green foliage go under off by bright white veining . make an telling “ thriller " in container planting .
Heart to Heart ™ ‘ Chinook',Croton‘Excelente Rushfoil ’ , and Kimberly Queen fern ( see thiscontainer recipefrom Proven Winners ) .
Heart to Heart ® ' Tickle Me Pink'—Buy now from Proven WinnersCaladium bicolor
Beautiful pinkish center with livid speckle and green gross profit margin , what ’s not to love ?
Pair with Sunstar ™ Red Egyptian star prime for a pink and light-green explosion of color . ( see thiscontainer recipefrom Proven Winners . )
Photo by : Botanic World / Alamy Stock Photo
' White Queen’Caladium bicolor
18 to 24 inches
10 to 12 inches
A true drama female monarch , flaunting large white leaves and smart red veins that bleed to dark pink , creating a unique smudged effect .
await striking when institute alongsideannual impatienswith flushed or pink flowers .
Photo by : Khairil Azhar Junos / Shutterstock
‘ Miss Muffet’Caladium bicolor
12 to 14 column inch
Like its namesake , this dainty dwarf caladium is small in stature but full of charm , with birdlime green leaves adorned by burgundy speckles and creamy livid accents .
Great in containers combined with the greenish - lily-livered foliage ofGoldilocks cower Jennyor as an underplanting to taller caladium miscellany .
Photo by : Barbara Kalbfleisch / Shutterstock
‘ Moonlight’Caladium‘Moonlight ’
12 to 24 inch
12 to 18 inches
Full shade to partial sun
‘ moonshine ’ features luminescent white leave of absence that lighten up any suspicious spot in your garden . soft green vena are understated against the creamy blank leaves .
Bred specially for use in small containers , can also be used in the garden in line with the vibrant color ofwax begonia .
DESIGN IDEAS
In the garden:
Plant as a ground cover , delimitation , accent planting , or in containers , especially in shady domain of the garden that take an infusion of semblance . The oversized leave-taking trance attention even from a space . They are idealistic plants to tuck into dark corner or to use as a dramatic backdrop for other shade - loving plants , such asimpatiens , begonias , andhostas . ( See morepopular outdoor foliage plants . )
In cut flower arrangements:
As an alternative to develop caladium in pots indoors , leaf cuttings taken from the garden will last as long as two to three weeks in a vase or flowered arrangement .
have in : Garden Design ’s Top 10 Garden Trends for 2022(“Including Plants that enrapture You to the Tropics " )
