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Caladium
Caladium
Caladium is grown for its foliage rather than flowers, giving the garden structure and color all season long.
Mature size, hardiness zones, sun and the trait tags were checked against named botanical sources for this plant. The bloom months and water need on this page were not.
Growing Caladium
Plant it in part shade. It prefers high water. It is hardy in USDA zones 9–11. Expect it to reach about 1.3 ft tall and 1.3 ft wide at maturity, in roughly 1 year.
When to plant Caladium
Wait until all danger of frost has passed, then plant out Caladium into warm soil; in most zones that means late spring.
Month-by-month timing for your zone is on the planting calendar: for the middle of its range, start with zone 9 in February.
Comes in 4 varieties
Same plant, same care - pick the variety you are growing.
Good to know about Caladium
Curated from university extensions, botanic gardens and other primary sources, with the source named on every note.
Safety
Every part holds insoluble calcium oxalate crystals; toxic to dogs, cats and horses, and poisonous to humans. Chewing causes intense oral burning, swelling and drooling. per ASPCA and NC State
Worth knowing
Grown entirely for its leaves, not flowers. It rarely blooms, and extensions say to snip off any flower stalk so it keeps making leaves instead of going dormant. per NC State
Tuber storage temperature
Extensions disagree on the minimum storage temperature. Play it safe and keep dug tubers on the warm side, around 60 to 70 F, never chilled or refrigerated. per Illinois and Penn State
Sun depends on leaf type
Fancy-leaved (heart-shaped) types want dappled or part shade; hot sun scorches them. Strap-leaved and newer sun-tolerant cultivars take more sun if kept moist. Match sun to leaf. per Clemson and Wisconsin
Tender tuber: dig or replace
The tuber won't survive a freeze in the ground. In cold zones, dig and store it dry before frost, or grow it fresh as an annual each spring. per NC State
Wait for warm soil
Don't plant until the soil warms to about 68 to 70 F. Cold, wet soil rots the tuber and it won't sprout. Start it indoors for a head start. per Clemson and Penn State
Thirsty but hates wet feet
Caladium is a water guzzler wanting constant moisture, yet soggy, poorly drained soil rots the tuber. Keep it evenly moist in rich, free-draining soil, never waterlogged. per Clemson
What pairs well with Caladium
Good companions share its growing conditions and add something it lacks: an earlier or later bloom, a lower carpet in front, or structure through winter.
Gardenia
Takes part sun to part shade and high water; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; taller at 3.9 ft, for the layer behind it.
Rhododendron
Shares part shade and moderate to high water; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; taller at 5.9 ft, for the layer behind it.
Northern Sea Oats
Shares part shade and moderate to high water; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds; taller at 3.3 ft, for the layer behind it.
Camellia
Shares part shade and moderate to high water; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter; taller at 6.6 ft, for the layer behind it.
Christmas Fern
Takes part shade to full shade and moderate to high water; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
Bergenia
Takes part sun to part shade and moderate to high water; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
Cardinal Flower
Takes part sun to part shade and high water; taller at 3.3 ft, for the layer behind it.
Autumn Fern
Shares part shade and moderate to high water; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
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