Caladium
Caladium bicolor
📖 About this plant
A spectacular foliage plant renowned for its large, heart-shaped or arrow-shaped leaves in breathtaking combinations of red, pink, white, and green. Often called Angel Wings or Elephant Ears, each variety has a unique, hand-painted appearance. Grown from tubers that go dormant in winter. A must-have for adding dramatic color to shady areas.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
Partial shade to bright indirect (2-4 hrs)
Every 2-3 days
High (60-80%)
20-28°C
Rich, moist, well-draining soil with high organic matter; peat-based mix with perlite works well
Balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength every 2-3 weeks during the growing season
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- South America — Brazil, Peru, and the Amazon basin; tropical wet forests
- 📏 Max height
- 30-90 cm
- 📐 Spread
- 30-60 cm
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Rarely indoors
- 🎨 Bloom color
- White, Pink
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Red, Pink, White, Green
- ⏳ Lifespan
- Perennial
- 📈 Growth rate
- Moderate
- ☠️ Toxicity
- TOXIC — all parts contain calcium oxalate crystals; ingestion causes intense burning, swelling of mouth and throat; keep away from children and pets
- 🌱 Propagation
- Tuber division in spring (each tuber section must have an eye); less commonly by seed (slow, variable)
🛡️ Health & Safety
TOXIC — all parts contain calcium oxalate crystals; ingestion causes intense burning, swelling of mouth and throat; keep away from children and pets
Common issues
- Tuber rot from overwatering, Aphids, Whitefly, Brown leaf edges from low humidity
💡 Care tips
- Stunning heart-shaped leaves in red pink white and green combinations,Grown from tubers that go dormant in winter,Keep away from cold drafts and temperatures below 15°C,Brilliant foliage plant that thrives in shade
