Caladium bicolor

Common Names

Elephant Ears, Angel Wings, Heart of Jesus, White Queen

Summary

A tropical Araceae perennial native to Central and South America, the plant features large heart- to arrow-shaped leaves in white, green, red, and pink patterns, two leaf forms exist, fancy-leaved and strap-leaved, often reaching 12–30 inches in height and 8–12 inches in spread, with leaves that can appear translucent under light and a tuberous growth habit, all parts are toxic to people and pets, in cultivation it grows best in filtered shade or partial sun, in rich, well-drained soil kept evenly moist, with temperatures around 70–75°F by day and 60–65°F at night, hardy in zones 9–11 and often grown as a summer outdoor annual or indoors in cooler areas, with overwintering by storing tubers or leaving them in warm climates, propagation is by dividing tubers, with tubers planted 2 inches deep and 8–12 inches apart, commonly used in containers, shade borders, and landscape plantings, pests such as aphids, mealybugs, and spider mites can occur and may be managed with neem oil, avoid overwatering to prevent rot

Lifecycle

Perennial (zones 9–11); otherwise grown as an annual.

Height

1-2.5 feet

Spread

12-24 inches

Hardiness Zones

Zones 9-11

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-drained, organic-rich, moist soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (about 5.5–6.5).

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soil

Soil pH

6.0-6.5

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Time

Summer through Fall

Foliage Color

Multicolored foliage (green, red, pink, white, and yellow-green).

Fall Foliage Color

Yellow

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Fast

Seasons of Interest

Spring and Summer

Propagation Methods

Division, Cuttings (tuber cuttings)