No one can compete with the flashy colors and patterns that annuals bring to a New York summer. Caladiums, natives of Brazil, enjoy the heat and bright indirect sun...
PlantTherapy: Dramatic Caladium Foliage
The variety above is called Candidum and it has a way of making white and green look exciting. Even though these guys are way outside their hardiness zone I have been told they can be dug up and replanted in the next year.
A sidewalk planter with a mixture of varieties
Caladiums grow from a corm. They will begin to go dormant when cooler weather arrives. Allow the leaves to die back so that the corm can absorb the nutrients, making sure to dig them up before the first frost hits. Store them in a warm, dry and well-ventilated place for the winter. You can put them in a mesh bag with peat moss separating the corms.
Caladium paired with Lamium Maculatum (a fantastic, shade-loving perennial)
I have a soft spot for any plant that lets the rain drops pool together so beautifully.
matt at apartment therapy dot com
Comments (8)
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Matt, both this and your earlier Christopher Street wisteria post are so well written, with such gorgeous photography. You could put a book together of just the PlantTherapy posts.
view Sea's profile
Great pictures but have to disagree with your description of Caladium, or elephant ears. At least in Texas, these plants can just be planted and left alone.
Not only will they grow with little/no care, but they will spread and spread and spread. I had some around my house when I first moved in and now, whenever I want to add a little height somewhere, I dig up some elephant ears, plop them in the ground and my job is done :) They will look like they have died off, but they'll come back.
I give them to all my friends and they really are one of the best plants out there.
view sam's profile
upon further research I should say that my experience has everything to do with my gardening zone. Apparently, Caladiums in the NE need much more tender care. Bummer. Guess TX does have something going for it ;)
view sam's profile
Hey Matt,
I agree with Sea. Your posts are lovely to see and enjoyable to read. I look forward to my weekly plant therapy!
Thanks!
view jamjaree's profile
I have some caladium in my living room. Every once in a while a drop of water will fall from the tip, which I think is beautiful.
A friend saw it and said that it was a poisonous plant and the drop was a 'venom' of sorts.
Is this pure bull or truth?
view caraliz's profile
caraliz, as far as I know, caladium is poisonous to pets, but only when ingested in large quantities. To people, caladium "juice" (what's inside the plant, not the drops from the tip) is an irritant that can make your skin burn, but that's it.
view bubble's profile
thanks bubble, I will no longer fear the elephant's ear :)
view caraliz's profile
You find caladiums in Africa too. They can't survive a freeze, which is why you have to dig the corms in cold climates. I think they're stunning.
view Deborah's profile