The Colorful Caladium

It's commonly believed that for maximum color, a garden must have lots of blooming plants. Actually, that's not true.

Take a caladium for example. This plant doesn't flower, fruit or develop bright seedpods. It does, however, sport some of the most fabulous foliage found anywhere. Large heart-shaped leaves are the pallets on which brilliant reds, pinks and whites are splashed and spotted. Add contrasting veining and sharply edged leaf borders and the effect is dazzling.

While vivid flowers come and go, the foliage of caladiums, also known as Angel Wings, provides sensational color in borders, containers and beds throughout the growing season.

You want colorful flowers for cutting, you say? Snip a few - 3 or 5 - perfect caladium leaves and slip them into a tall, simple vase. The result is cleanly elegant and rival the brightest blooms. You don't have to tell anyone how do-it-with-your-eyes-closed easy it was to achieve. That's your secret.

As you consider this year's garden, remember colorful foliage and have beds awash in magnificent shades all season long!

If you're new to gardening, take a few moments to determine your area's hardiness zone. Whether you can plant calla lily bulbs, caladiums, watsonia or other favorites outdoors and expect them to live past the first season depends on their hardiness and your zone.

The continental United States is divided into 8 hardiness zones based on average summer and winter temperatures. Maps have been developed to show these zones. Before you buy a bulb, tuber, root, perennial plant or shrub, check the accompanying cultural information for a hardiness rating. Then compare that information to your zone on a hardiness map.

To see a copy of this map, click on Zone Map at the bottom of the left side column on this page. Then click on your state for an enlarged view.

Suppose the map shows your garden is in zone 8. That means that calla lily bulbs with a hardiness rating of 8-10 will be fine in your weather. In zones 7, 6 and 5, however, where winter temperatures are colder, callas are unlikely to survive if left outdoors.

This little tip can save you time, money and heartache. Now you're in the know!