Happy Monday! Our plant of the week is Caladium, a tropical perennial with colorful, heart-shaped leaves. They are grown from tubers, typically planted in spring.
Caladium is also known as “Elephant Ear,” “Angel Wings”, and sometimes “Heart of Jesus”. There are two main types of Caladium: fancy-leaved (large leaves) and lance-leafed (smaller, narrower leaves).
Caladiums are native to South and Central America, and were brought first to Europe, then the USA, where they gained popularity after the 1893 World’s Fair.
The University of Florida began a Caladium breeding program in 1976, creating dozens of new, disease-resistant, and sun-tolerant cultivars. Now, around 90% of the world’s caladium bulbs are grown in Lake Placid, Florida.
Let us know if you have any questions!