Caladium bicolor

A tender perennial summer flowering bulb often grown as an annual bedding, container plant, houseplant, or Acaulescent herb grown for its colorful, arrowhead-shaped leaves that come in a rainbow of colors like white, pink, red, green, and bicolor.  Some are nearly white with a green border and veins.  The flowers and fruits are ornamentally insignificant. It is propagated by tubers, and the tubers must be dug up and stored over winter. Consider using this plant as a specimen, in massing plantings, or shaded borders. It is a water guzzler and requires abundant amounts of water when growing. 

Plant in partial shade to full in fertile, acidic, high organic matter well-drained soils.  Keep soils moist, especially throughout the summer, and fertilize regularly during the growing season.  

The tubers will not overwinter outdoors, so dig up and store.  It tolerates deep shade and gives a tropical feel to container gardens and borders.

Quick ID Hints:

• Acaulescent plant with elongate, erect petioles
• Leaves sagittate, peltate, variable variegation
• Popular selections are white leaves with green/red

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease problems. Slugs and snails may damage foliage. Fragile leaves can be damaged by wind or hail.  Difficult to grow as interior landscape plants as leaves die back during winter