Fancy-Leaved Caladium or Elephant’s Ear
Caladium bicolor hybrids (formerly Caladium X hortulanum) (ARACEAE)
Planting and Growing Fancy-Leaved Caladium
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow fancy-leaved caladium or elephant’s ear in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, and root structure of fancy-leaved caladium or elephant’s ear
- Season of bloom and planting time for fancy-leaved caladium or elephant’s ear
- Plant hardiness and growing conditions for fancy-leaved caladium or elephant’s ear
- When, how deep, and where to plant fancy-leaved caladium or elephant’s ear
- How to plant fancy-leaved caladium or elephant’s ear
- Watering, fertilizing, care and pests or diseases of fancy-leaved caladium or elephant’s ear
- Landscape and indoor uses of fancy-leaved caladium or elephant’s ear
- Comments about fancy-leaved caladium or elephant’s ear and its features
Growing Fancy-Leaved Caladium
Summer tuber. Deciduous. Stands 1–3 ft. (30–90 cm) tall. Broad, heart-shaped, short to long, light green leaves, 2–18 in. (50–450 mm) long, depending on hybrid, with pink, red, and white variegated patterns.
Common cultivars include Caladium X hortulanum ‘Ace of Hearts’, ‘Fire Chief’, ‘Little Miss Muffet’, ‘Red Flash’, and ‘White Queen’.
Fancy-Leaved Caladium Planting and Care Guide
Flowers
Insignificant flowers; grown for foliage.
Best Climates
U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness Zones 8–11; ground hardy, zones 9–11.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist, well-drained soil. Fertility: Rich. 5.5–6.5 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Late spring in partial to full shade. Space 1 ft. (30 cm) apart, 1–3 in. (25–75 mm) deep.
Proper Care
Moderate. Keep moist spring–autumn. Allow soil to dry when leaves wither. Fertilize until buds form. Protect from wind. Propagate by offsets.
Lifting and Storing
Dark, 50–60°F (10–16°C), in net bag or open basket of dry peat moss.
About This Species
Good choice for borders, containers, edgings, mixed plantings in shade, tropical gardens. Good with annual and perennial flowers. Deer, rodent resistant.