Carefree and Colorful Caladiums

It has been a brutally hot and dry summer here in Northeast Massachusetts and I’ve done more than one rain dance while praying for a good soaking! Yet, in spite of these harsh conditions and pests galore, the gardens have carried on with abundant growing, blooming and producing.

Over the years I’ve come to rely on robust plants such as perennial Sedums, Echinacea, Rudbeckia, Ferns and Hosta. Not only do they survive hot and arid summers, they sleep through frigid New England winters only to rise again with renewed vigor in the spring! Then there are the annuals such as Marigolds, Portulaca, Zinnias, Sweet Alyssum and Salvias that take whatever nature throws at them, all the while smiling back with joyful flowers.

Even though I always count on my usual cast of characters to carry me through the growing season, every spring I like to try at least one new plant and take it for a test drive. If it succumbs to insects, critters or weather, I’ll mourn and give it a decent burial but chances are I won’t plant it again.

The new kid on the block this year was the tropical Caladium, a plant I’ve often admired but was always hesitant to grow. After all, how could such a delicate-looking beauty possibly hold up to heat, drought and hungry pests? But, after finding a bargain bag of fifteen Caladium bulbs at Home Depot this past winter, I decided to try starting them under grow lights in my heated basement. Potted up in early March, it took several weeks before leaves began to emerge but once they started, they grew vigorously. After hardening them off outdoors for a couple of weeks in early June, they were ready to move to their permanent summer homes.

Of the fifteen bulbs planted, thirteen somehow survived to adulthood. Some of the Caladiums I gave away while others were tucked into shady areas in my flower beds. Two brilliant matching reds were planted in pots on either side of the front door. Although those planted in the garden have grown surprisingly well with very little rainfall and lots of benign neglect, the two planted in pots have thrived with the extra watering and regular feeding they’ve received.

I have to admit that I didn’t have high hopes for any of them making it through the summer. Surely every insect in the neighborhood would find these exotic beauties and proceed to chomp off their heads! On the contrary, none of the plants were affected by pests or disease and have grown with a serene vitality all their own.

Caladiums have large diaphanous heart-shaped leaves in shades of pink, red, white and variations thereof including speckles, spots, veins and bold green edges. They are medium-sized plants, growing from 1 to 3 feet in height, sometimes with a canopy of leaves. With such a variety of colors and sizes to choose from, garden design possibilities are endless!

Native to the tropics, Caladiums love hot and humid weather and respond well to a little extra feeding with liquid kelp or seaweed. They positively light up shady gardens where they are most at home but I find some morning sun helps intensify their striking colors. Although they prefer evenly moist soil, they don’t like to be waterlogged and can even tolerate some dryness once established. Occasionally they will bloom with a calyx similar to a Peace Lily or Anthurium, but with leaves this stunning, who needs flowers?

What surprises me the most about growing Caladiums is how well they blend in with my established shade garden plants while adding bright spots of color. Their bold foliage looks especially fetching with the delicate fronds of Ferns or Astilbes and, as you can see in the photos, they make a striking addition to planters. If you live in an area with warm summers, I hope you’ll give Caladiums a try in your pots and flower beds next year. I know I’ll definitely be planting them again!