1 named cultivar

‘Aaron’Aaron Caladium

bulb corm tuber

Caladium

The Story

Plant Bio

Caladium bicolor, angel wings, is a tuberous perennial from Central and South America, one to two feet high and wide, grown entirely for its foliage. Large arrow or heart-shaped leaves are held on long stalks and marked in combinations of white, pink, red and green, with veins and margins often picked out in contrasting colour.

The tubers rot if planted into cold soil, so wait until the ground is genuinely warm rather than planting on the calendar — this is the single commonest way they are lost. It is one of very few plants offering strong colour in deep shade. All parts contain calcium oxalate and cause severe mouth burning, so keep it away from pets and children.

Uses & Benefits:

Large paper-thin leaves in white, pink and red, giving strong colour where flowers will not grow.

Tubers store easily over winter and multiply, so one purchase lasts for years.

Grown almost entirely as an ornamental; its flowers are insignificant.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Bulb Corm Tuber

Height

24 inches

Width

24 inches

Light

Partial Sun, Shade

Zones

9, 10

Water

Moderate to high

Humidity

High

Lifespan

Perennial

Native To

Central and South America

Toxicity

Toxic; causes severe mouth and throat burning

Planting

How to Grow

Plant tubers only once the soil is genuinely warm.
Choose partial to deep shade; sun scorches the leaves.
Give it moist, humus-rich, freely draining soil.
Keep it consistently moist through the season.
Lift and store tubers dry and frost-free in autumn.
Keep it away from pets and small children.

Pro Tip

Cold soil rots the tubers — waiting two extra weeks in spring saves more caladiums than anything else you can do.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Wait for warm soil before planting 🌡️
Use it for colour in deep shade 🌑
Keep it evenly moist 💧
Lift and store tubers in autumn 🥔

Don't

Plant tubers into cold ground ❌
Let it sit in full sun ❌
Let pets or children chew the leaves ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Lift
Plant

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Colour in deep shade bedsContainers and shaded patio potsHouseplant in a bright, warm room

Companion Plants

Hosta ImpatiensColeus Autumn Fern Begonia

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Caladium questions

What zones can Caladium grow in?

Caladium is hardy in USDA Zones 9–10. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Caladium deer resistant?

Not reliably. Deer may browse Caladium, especially tender spring growth — plan on repellents or fencing where pressure is high.

When does Caladium bloom?

Caladium typically blooms in summer through early fall. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Caladium need full sun?

Caladium does best in part shade.