Description
The genus Caladium includes seven species that are native to South America and Central America, and naturalized in India, parts of Africa, and various tropical islands.Caladiums are known for theirbig, heart-shaped leavesthat display amazing color combinations of white, pink, red and green.
Caladiums can be grown in containers or clumped together within beds and border. There are numerous varieties of caladiums found in either the fancy-leaved or the strap-leaved cultivar. Often varieties that bloom for a short portion of the season.
Blooming on caladium plants is not common, but tubers planted in favorable locations tend to produce small flower.| Common Name | Elephant ear, Heart of Jesus, Angel Wings |
| Height | Up to 80 cm |
| Flower Colour | Pale yellow (the flower-like bud on a caladium is a spathe) |
| Bloom Time | The flowers are inconspicuous and when grown as annuals, they may not have time to flower at all. |
| Difficulty Level | Easy to grow |
Planting procedure
- In temperate areas, they should be lifted before the first frost
- The corms are dried and stored for the winter when temperatures fall to 65 degrees F (18 degrees C) and stored moderately dry (not bone-dry) over the winter at temperatures between 56 degrees F (13 degrees C) and 61 degrees F (16 degrees C)
- When you plant caladiums, you should plant them about 4 to 6 inches deep and 4 to 6 inches apart
- Water the caladiums enough to keep the soil slightly damp but never enough for it to be soggy
Caladium care
- Caladiums grow from tubers and can be propagated by dividing the tubers
- These plants thrive in moist, well-drained soil and are generally happier in partial shade
- As foliage begins to die down in the fall, reduce water, dig up and air dry bulbs for a week
- Store in a dry location at 55 degrees or above
| Sunlight | Full sun to partial shade |
| Watering | During their growing season, they require moderate watering. |
| Soil | Moist, well-drained soil |
| Temperature | 18 to 24 degrees C |
| Fertilizer | Fertilize weekly during the growing season with liquid or use slow-release pellets. |
Caladium special feature
Attractive foliage
Caladium uses
- Several species are grown as ornamental plants for their large, arrowhead-shaped leaves marked in varying patterns