Caladiums
Although this South American tuber does produce small pink flowers, it is grown not for its blooms but for its striking leaves. The arrow or heart-shaped leaves are veined, edged, or mottled in numerous variations of pink, red, green, silver, and white. The plants grow about 12 inches tall and enhance any shrub border or flower bed. They also make good container plants for adding color on porches and patios.
Caladium x bortulanum, fancy-leaved caladiums, grow best in hot humid areas, and are hardy outdoors only in Zone 10. In other zones they are grown as annuals that are dug up just before the fall frost and stored for the winter. About two months before the air temperature will remain above 70°F, plant the tubers 1 to 2 inches deep in moist vermiculite or peat moss. When small leaves appear, transplant the young plants to 4 to 7-inch diameter containers, and move them outdoors when the weather is reliably warm (above 70°F).
caladiums grow equally well in light or dense shade, and prefer a well-drained soil that is kept evenly moist. To maintain attractive plants and to encourage new, colorful leaves, cut off any dead leaves at the base of the leaf stalk.
