Caladium Bulb Information

General Information

Caladiums are tropical hot weather summer foliage plants in the Araceae family, Aroideae subfamily, genus Caladium. Caladiums perform best in shade. Many varieties are sun tolerant, although they prefer morning sun rather than hot afternoon sun. The leaf is classified as either “Fancy” (large) or “Strap” (narrow). Fancy-leaf Caladium stems are attached within the blade of the leaf while the strap-leaf variety stem is at or near the edge of the leaf. In general, Fancy leaf Caladiums are less sun tolerant, develop faster, are less cold tolerant, are taller and more upright and last shorter periods in the landscape. Strap leaf Caladiums have elongated, narrow shaped leaves, are smaller, shorter, spread more, and are less upright.

Varieties Available (click image for larger view)

FANCY LEAF RED VARIETIES

Caladium with bright red center.

Florida Cardinal


Florida Cardinal – Bright red center, medium green margins, medium height, bushy, sun tolerant.

Caladium with dark red central veins.

Red Flash


Red Flash – Dark red central veins, pink spots, dark green margins, tall, bushy, don’t crowd, sun tolerant.

Bright red with green margins.

Buck Rogers


Buck Rogers – Bright red with green margins, morning sun only for best color.

Caladium with deep red center.

Postman Joyner


Postman Joyner – Deep red center, red veins, red spots, green margins, tall, early, part sun.
FANCY LEAF PINK VARIETIES

Caladium with bubblegum toned pink blotches.

Pink Cloud


Pink Cloud – Bubblegum toned pink blotches become transparent with white veins, tall, early. Shade only.

Caladium with medium toned pink blotches.

Carolyn Whorton


Carolyn Whorton – Medium toned pink blotches, red veins, green margins, large upright leaves, tall, sun tolerant.

Light salmon caladium with pink center.

Kathleen


Kathleen – Light salmon, pink center, medium green border, full, upright, early to develop. Shade only.

Green leaf caladium with large pink splashes.

Florida Roselight


Florida Roselight – Green leaf with large splashes of pink. Sun tolerant.
FANCY LEAF WHITE VARIETIES

Caladium with large white center.

White Christmas


White Christmas – White center with predominant dark green veins. Tall. Part sun.

White caladium with green veins.

Candidum


Candidum – White with green netted veins, fine green margins. Shade only.

White caladium with pale green veins.

June Bride


June Bride – White with pale green veins, thin green margins. Tall, don’t crowd. Shade only.

White and pink caladium

White Queen


White Queen – Creamy white, green netted veins. Dark red central veins. Center can bleed to pink. Tall, large leaves, sun tolerant.
STRAP LEAF VARIETIES

Rosy pink, deeper rose vein caladium.

Florida Sweetheart

 

Florida Sweetheart – Rosy pink, deeper rose veins, thin green margins. Compact, short. Full sun.

Green caladium with red and white veins.

Miss Muffet

 

Miss Muffet – Chartreuse green with varying red and white veins, red spots. Compact, bushy, low grower, semi-shade.

Caladium with creamy white center.

Gingerland

 

Gingerland – Creamy white center, white veins, many red spots, light green margins. Bushy med height, sun.

Caladium with large pink blotches.

Lance Whorton

 

Lance Whorton – Large pink blotches, dark red central veins, medium green margins. Bushy, short, late. Sun tolerant.

Growing Instructions

Plant 6-12 inches apart, 3-5 inches deep (cover tubers with 1-2 inches of soil) when soil temperatures reach 70 degrees. In the North Florida area the soil usually reaches this temperature in April.  Water frequently, keeping soil moist but not saturated. Plants can be fertilized with a soluble fertilizer to promote strong foliage growth. Fertilization is not necessary if planted in well-prepared beds. Bulbs may be planted in borders, in mass or in containers and hanging baskets.

Bulbs (tubers) may be over-wintered by digging up and storing. Dig bulbs before all leaves have lost their color. Dry for a week, and then remove dried foliage and dirt and store in peat moss or vermiculite. Bulbs should be stored where temperatures do not go below 50 degrees.

Tallahassee Garden Club

Caladium Bulbs (tubers) are grown in Lake Placid Florida, the Caladium Capital of the world. The bulbs offered through Tallahassee Garden Club are #1 size (1 1/2″– 2 1/2″) and come to you fresh from the supplier in Lake Placid, Florida.

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