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Caladium Planting Guide
While some plants are renowned for their brilliant blooms, others are celebrated for their fantastic foliage, including Caladiums with their spectacularly vibrant leaves. Not only do these tropical plants provide an extremely long season of color, but they're exceptionally fast-growing and perfect for shaded garden spaces. If you've never grown Caladiums, consider incorporating them into your garden display for long-lasting beauty that challenges even the brightest blooms. Here's everything you need to know about growing and caring for these stunning foliage plants:
Success Snapshot

PLANTING
DEPTH
1-2"

WATER
QUANTITY
Moderate

SUNLIGHT
QUANTITY
Partial Shade to Full Shade

PLANTING
PROXIMITY
Species dependent; 6-12"

BLOOM
SEASON
N/A; Grown for foliage

HARDINESS
ZONES
Zones 9-11 or indoors
Shop Related Products

Caladium Peppermint
$18.95
Contains: 3 large Caladium bulbs
Botanical Name: Caladium hortulanum 'Peppermint'
Exposure: Partial Shade to Full Shade; Indirect to Low Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 9-11 or indoors

Caladium Debutante
$18.95
Contains: 3 large Caladium bulbs
Botanical Name: Caladium hortulanum 'Debutante'
Exposure: Partial Shade to Full Shade; Indirect to Low Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 9-11 or indoors
Caladium Aaron
$16.95
Contains: 3 large Caladium bulbs
Botanical Name: Caladium hortulanum 'Aaron'
Exposure: Partial Shade to Full Shade; Indirect to Low Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 9-11 or indoors

Caladium Candyland
$18.95
Contains: 3 large Caladium bulbs
Botanical Name: Caladium hortulanum 'Candyland'
Exposure: Partial Sun; Bright Indirect Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 9-11 or indoors

Caladium Pink Gem
$18.95
Contains: 3 large Caladium bulbs
Botanical Name: Caladium hortulanum 'Pink Gem'
Exposure: Partial Sun to Partial Shade; Indirect Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 9-11 or indoors

Caladium Celebration
$16.95
Contains: 3 large Caladium bulbs
Botanical Name: Caladium hortulanum 'Celebration'
Exposure: Partial Sun to Partial Shade; Indirect Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 9-11 or indoors

Caladium Miss Muffett
$16.95
Contains: 3 large Caladium bulbs
Botanical Name: Caladium hortulanum 'Miss Muffett'
Exposure: Partial Sun to Partial Shade; Indirect Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 9-11 or indoors

Caladium Creamsickle
$16.95
Contains: 3 large Caladium bulbs
Botanical Name: Caladium hortulanum 'Creamsickle'
Exposure: Partial Sun to Partial Shade; Indirect Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 9-11 or indoors
Caladium White Christmas
$16.95
Contains: 3 large Caladium bulbs
Botanical Name: Caladium hortulanum 'White Christmas'
Exposure: Partial Shade to Full Shade; Indirect to Low Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 9-11 or indoors

Caladium Freckles
$16.95
Contains: 3 large Caladium bulbs
Botanical Name: Caladium hortulanum 'Freckles'
Exposure: Partial Sun to Partial Shade; Bright Indirect Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 9-11 or indoors

Caladium Party Punch
$16.95
Contains: 3 large Caladium bulbs
Botanical Name: Caladium hortulanum 'Party Punch'
Exposure: Partial Sun to Partial Shade; Indirect Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 9-11 or indoors
Caladium Pink Beauty
$16.95
Contains: 3 large Caladium bulbs
Botanical Name: Caladium hortulanum 'Pink Beauty'
Exposure: Partial Sun to Partial Shade; Indirect Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 9-11 or indoors

Caladium Carolyn Whorton
$16.95
Contains: 3 large Caladium bulbs
Botanical Name: Caladium hortulanum 'Carolyn Whorton'
Exposure: Partial Sun to Partial Shade; Indirect Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 9-11 or indoors

Caladium Chinook
$18.95
Contains: 3 large Caladium bulbs
Botanical Name: Caladium hortulanum 'Chinook'
Exposure: Partial Shade to Full Shade; Indirect to Low Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 9-11 or indoors

Caladium Sweetheart
$18.95
Contains: 3 large Caladium bulbs
Botanical Name: Caladium hortulanum 'Sweetheart'
Exposure: Partial Sun to Full Shade; Indirect Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 9-11 or indoors

Caladium Pink Splash
$16.95
Contains: 3 large Caladium bulbs
Botanical Name: Caladium hortulanum 'Pink Splash'
Exposure: Partial Sun to Partial Shade; Indirect Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 9-11 or indoors

Caladium Raspberry Moon
$16.95
Contains: 3 large Caladium bulbs
Botanical Name: Caladium hortulanum 'Raspberry Moon'
Exposure: Partial Shade; Indirect Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 9-11 or indoors

Caladium Red Ruffles
$18.95
Contains: 3 large Caladium bulbs
Botanical Name: Caladium hortulanum 'Red Ruffles'
Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Sun; Bright Direct Indoors. Sun Tolerant!
Hardiness: Zones 9-11 or indoors

Caladium Scarlet Flame
$18.95
Contains: 3 large Caladium bulbs
Botanical Name: Caladium hortulanum 'Scarlet Flame'
Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Sun; Bright Direct Indoors. Sun Tolerant!
Hardiness: Zones 9-11 or indoors

Caladium Heart's Delight
$18.95
Contains: 3 large Caladium bulbs
Botanical Name: Caladium hortulanum 'Heart's Delight'
Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Sun; Bright Direct Indoors. Sun Tolerant!
Hardiness: Zones 9-11 or indoors

Caladium Postman Joyner
$16.95
Contains: 3 large Caladium bulbs
Botanical Name: Caladium hortulanum 'Postman Joyner'
Exposure: Partial Sun to Partial Shade; Indirect Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 9-11 or indoors

Caladium Lemon Blush
$16.95
Contains: 3 large Caladium bulbs
Botanical Name: Caladium hortulanum 'Lemon Blush'
Exposure: Partial Sun to Partial Shade; Indirect Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 9-11 or indoors

Caladium Cardinal
$16.95
Contains: 3 large Caladium bulbs
Botanical Name: Caladium hortulanum 'Cardinal', syn. 'Florida Cardinal'
Exposure: Partial Shade to Full Shade; Indirect to Low Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 9-11 or indoors

Caladium Roseglow
$16.95
Contains: 3 large Caladium bulbs
Botanical Name: Caladium hortulanum 'Roseglow'
Exposure: Partial Shade to Full Shade; Indirect Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 9-11 or indoors

Caladium Shady Lady Colorful Mix
$38.95
Contains: 9 large Caladium bulbs
Botanical Name: Caladium hortulanum
Exposure: Partial Shade; Indirect Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 9-11 or indoors

Caladium Sparkling Shade Mix
$17.95
Contains: 3 large Caladium bulbs
Botanical Name: Caladium hortulanum
Exposure: Partial Shade; Indirect Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 9-11 or indoors

Caladium White Queen
$16.95
Contains: 3 large Caladium bulbs
Botanical Name: Caladium hortulanum 'White Queen'
Exposure: Partial Shade to Full Shade; Indirect to Low Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 9-11 or indoors

Caladium Allure
$16.95
Contains: 3 large Caladium bulbs
Botanical Name: Caladium hortulanum 'Allure'
Exposure: Partial Shade to Full Shade; Indirect to Low Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 9-11 or indoors

Caladium Red Flash
$16.95
Contains: 3 large Caladium bulbs
Botanical Name: Caladium hortulanum 'Red Flash'
Exposure: Partial Sun; Bright Indirect Indoors. Sun Tolerant!
Hardiness: Zones 9-11 or indoors

Caladium Red Glamour
$18.95
Contains: 3 large Caladium bulbs
Botanical Name: Caladium hortulanum 'Red Glamour'
Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Sun; Bright Direct Indoors. Sun Tolerant!
Hardiness: Zones 9-11 or indoors

Caladium Burning Heart
$16.95
Contains: 3 large Caladium bulbs
Botanical Name: Caladium hortulanum 'Burning Heart'
Exposure: Partial Sun to Partial Shade; Bright Indirect Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 9-11 or indoors

Caladium Summer Breeze
$16.95
Contains: 3 large Caladium bulbs
Botanical Name: Caladium hortulanum 'Summer Breeze'
Exposure: Partial Shade to Full Shade; Indirect to Low Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 9-11 or indoors

Caladium Desert Sunset
$18.95
Contains: 3 large Caladium bulbs
Botanical Name: Caladium hortulanum 'Desert Sunset'
Exposure: Partial Sun to Partial Shade; Bright Indirect Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 9-11 or indoors

Caladium Tiki Torch
$18.95
Contains: 3 large Caladium bulbs
Botanical Name: Caladium hortulanum 'Tiki Torch'
Exposure: Partial Sun to Partial Shade; Indirect Indoors. Sun tolerant!
Hardiness: Zones 9-11 or indoors

Moonlight Garden Serenade - Alstroemeria, Begonia & Caladium Blend
$36.95
Contains: 1 potted Alstroemeria, 3 Begonia Tubers, 3 Caladium tubers (each labeled)
Botanical Name: Alstroemeria, Begonia, Caladium
Exposure: Partial Sun to Partial Shade
Hardiness: N/A

At First Blush - Alstroemeria, Begonia & Caladium Blend
$36.95
Contains: 1 potted Alstroemeria, 3 Begonia Tubers, 3 Caladium tubers (each labeled)
Botanical Name: Alstroemeria, Begonia, Caladium
Exposure: Partial Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: N/A

Let Me Call You Sweetheart - Alstroemeria, Begonia & Caladium Blend
$36.95
Contains: 1 potted Alstroemeria, 3 Begonia Tubers, 3 Caladium tubers (each labeled)
Botanical Name: Alstroemeria, Begonia, Caladium
Exposure: Partial Sun to Partial Shade
Hardiness: N/A

Passion For Pink - Begonia & Caladium Blend
$36.95
Contains: 9 robust bulbs
Botanical Name: Begonia and Caladium
Exposure: Partial Shade to Indirect Indoors
Hardiness: N/A
Where to Plant
While Caladiums are tropical plants, they grow fast enough to be enjoyed as annuals during the summer in cooler climates or year-round as houseplants. These low-growing showstoppers are happiest when planted in warm, humid, shady areas where many other plants will not survive. They're tolerant of filtered sunlight, bright indirect, or partial shade, but prefer full shade in warmer regions. Provide them with well-draining soil, and if you notice water puddles 5–6 hours after a hard rain, scout out another site or amend the soil with organic material to improve the drainage.
When to Plant
Plant your Caladium tubers outside in the spring after the risk of frost has passed and daytime temperatures stay above 70 degrees. These plants will only grow when the soil is warm, but if you're gardening in a colder climate and would like to get a jump start, you can always start them indoors 4–6 weeks before the average last frost date. Depending on the soil quality and air temperature, your Caladium tubers will develop sprouts and roots a few weeks after planting.
How to Plant
- For outdoor landscape planting, find a spot where your Caladiums will receive filtered sunlight, bright indirect, or partial shade. Dig holes and plant the tubers about 2" deep and 8–12" apart with the growing points or "eyes" facing up.
- For container planting, select a container with adequate drainage holes and fill it with good quality, well-drained soil. Almost any commercially available potting medium will work fine. Plant the tubers about 2" deep with the growing points or "eyes" facing up.
- Water generously after planting to settle the soil around the tubers.
How to Grow
- Water your Caladiums enough to keep the soil slightly damp but never enough for it to be soggy.
- Trim off any yellow foliage after the season has finished to tidy up the garden.
- Dig up the tubers before the first frost in fall if you live in a climate with cold or very wet winters. Let them air dry for several days before storing them in a cool location with peat moss.
- Allow your Caladiums to rest for a few months before beginning the next growing cycle.
Caladium Tips & Tricks
- Amend the soil with the addition of compost, finely ground bark, or composted manure to raise the level 2–3" and improve drainage.
- Plant your Caladiums in areas with some protection from wind as their large leaves are prone to damage.
- Expect roots and sprouts to form a few weeks after planting, with mature sizes reaching up to 25 inches tall.
- Bear in mind the mature sizes of your plants when selecting a container.
- Feel free to mix Caladiums with other plants in the same container, keeping in mind that all must have the same light and water needs.
- Pinch off a few leaves during active growth to add some colorful charm to mixed arrangements.