Caladium Plant Profile
Caladium (Caladium
genus) is a tropical perennial bulb grown as an annual in our region.
It has heart-shaped leaves with an array of colorful
patterns that include mottled, veined, and striped. There are thousands of
named Caladium cultivars available in a rainbow of colors and color
combinations, including green, white, pink, rose, and red.
Caladiums were named the National Garden Bureau's 2025 Bulb
of the Year for Bold Foliage.
Caladiums are native to the tropical forests of South
and Central America and are hardy to USDA zones 9 to 10.
They prefer to grow in consistent moisture in well-drained
soil. Most varieties do well in filtered sunlight or light afternoon shade.
Some cultivars can tolerate full sun and others do best in shade.
You can plant caladium tubers outdoors, after all the
danger of frost has passed and the soil temperature are 70°F.
You can also get a head start by planting them in containers
kept inside until they sprout and waiting until early summer to transplant them
into the garden.
Apply a diluted liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks during the
summer growing period.
The leaves can be damaged in high winds and by slugs chewing
holes in them. If a leaf becomes tattered or worn, simply pinch if off at the
base
They love our summer high heat and humidity and will
die-back during the first real frost or freeze. If you want to overwinter them as
a houseplant. be sure to dig them up and pot
them to bring indoors before the frost hits them.
Caladium: You Can Grow That!
The
video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine as part of our Plant
Profile series for Mid-Atlantic USA gardeners.
Audio, video/photos, and text by
Kathy Jentz
Editing by Koree Perry.
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If you liked this video, you may enjoy these other plant profiles:
~ Coleus Plant Profile
https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2022/09/coleus-plant-profile.html
~ Hosta Plant Profile
https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2025/06/hosta-plant-profile.html
~ Hardy Ferns Plant Profile
https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2021/05/plant-profile-hardy-ferns.html
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