Caladium

Caladium bicolor

flower

Caladium (Caladium bicolor) is a tropical, tuberous plant grown not for flowers but for its spectacular large, arrowhead-shaped leaves splashed and veined in white, pink, red, and green. Reaching 1 to 2 ft, it lights up shady beds, borders, and containers with a lush, tropical feel where flowering plants struggle. Hardy only in zones 9 and warmer, it is grown as a summer annual or container plant elsewhere, with the tubers lifted and stored over winter. Its tiny flowers are insignificant.

✅ Plant alongside

Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests

• Hosta — A shade perennial whose bold leaves complement caladium foliage
• Impatiens — Adds flower color in the same moist shade
• Fern — A fine-textured shade companion that sets off the broad caladium leaves

🛡️ Pest & disease prevention

Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide

• Slugs →

  Chew holes in the tender leaves in damp shade; remove hiding spots and avoid overwatering at night

• Snails →

  Similar leaf damage; hand-pick in the evening and clear debris

• Tuber rot

  From cold, wet soil or storage; plant only in warm, well-drained soil and store tubers dry and warm

🌸 Blooms & cutting

Caladium is grown for foliage, not harvest. The key seasonal task is overwintering in cold climates: after frost, lift the tubers, let them dry, and store them in peat or wood shavings at 45 F or warmer to replant next spring. The colorful leaves can also be cut for arrangements; wear gloves, as the sap is irritating.

🥗 Nutrition & benefits

Caladium is an ornamental foliage plant, not edible, and all parts are poisonous. Its value is brilliant, tropical leaf color that thrives in shade where flowers fail, lifting borders and containers all summer. Have a different variety? Cultivars of the same species share the same basic care, so this guide still applies even if your exact leaf pattern is not shown.

⚠️ Toxicity & safety

All parts of caladium contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals and are poisonous. Biting into the plant causes intense burning and swelling of the lips, mouth, and tongue, and can bring on nausea and vomiting; the sap also irritates skin. It is toxic to cats, dogs, and horses, and large ingestions by pets or livestock can be fatal. Wear gloves to handle it and keep it away from children and animals.