When it comes to fancy foliage, few perennials compete with caladiums. These flashy, splashy tropicals with their lovely heart-shaped leaves steal the show in the shade garden. They also make excellent houseplants.
Some caladium varieties are tolerant of full sun. For the most part, they prefer filtered light, or morning sun and afternoon shade. They work very well alongside gingers and other tropical understory plants. In a container, mix them with coleus or impatiens for lots of bold colors.
These arum family (Araceae) members come in many showy color combinations and patterns. I could spend hours picking out bulbs and still worry that I hadn’t scratched the surface. Each one seems lovelier than the next. Take a look at 25 fan-favorite caladium varieties for your shade garden.
‘Radiance’
The Heart to Heart series is a delightful group of hybrid caladium varieties with exceptional foliage. The colors are vivid and the patterns are uniquely beautiful. They grow best in sheltered locations outdoors. Indoors, give this type a sunny window.
‘Radiance’ is a small to midsized cultivar. The leaves have red veins with a splash of magenta in the center. Green margins and a white transition mingle together with green crossing over on the finer veins.
‘Rosebud’
‘Rosebud’ could be a total diva, but like all caladium varieties, she’s surprisingly low-maintenance. They have very few issues with pests or diseases, and their care needs are basic. Give them rich, well-draining soil and keep it lightly moist; they will do the rest.
This cultivar has gorgeous crimson veining that fades gradually to bright pink. Between the veins and the margins, these leaves are Kelly green. If you want bold color, definitely give ‘Rosebud’ a try.
‘Miss Muffet’
This miss is as cute as her name. ‘Miss Muffet’ is a whimsical cultivar with exciting, chartreuse foliage. Splatters of magenta freckle the foliage and lie lightly in the veining. This is one of the brighter color combinations I’ve seen and will light up shadier spaces.
‘Miss Muffet’ is a dwarf caladium variety. It will top out around 12″ tall. This makes it an excellent houseplant as it won’t soon outgrow its container. Outside, keep an eye out for damage from slugs and snails. Otherwise, it’s unlikely to attract attention from insects.
‘Desert Sunset’
It’s ok if you did a double take on ‘Desert Sunset.’ It’s simply breathtaking, isn’t it? I’ll bet you have a perfect spot for those large, ruffled, pink leaves with their crimson veins. Truly pink foliage is hard to come by.
If you happen upon a ‘Desert Sunset’ start, it’s a keeper. This variety is rare, and it’s easy to see why. It looks equally lovely mingling with ferns and gingers in the shade garden.
‘Carolyn Wharton’
Are there any Lilly Pulitzer lovers out there? If fun, beachy elegance is your vibe, ‘Carolyn Wharton’ would love an invitation. Considered an extra-fancy cultivar, she will spark conversation. Plant this one near your outdoor living space for splashy color through the warm season.
‘Carolyn Wharton’ has bubblegum pink and bright green leaves. Speckles of each color spill over onto the other, and deep magenta midribs form a starburst in the heart’s center.
‘White Christmas’
I’m dreaming of a beautiful green and snow-white variety for my kitchen window. ‘White Christmas’ has the appearance of dark green leaves with a healthy dusting of white, powdery snow on top.
The leaves are really more white, with green veins and margins, but the opposite appears to be the case. It’s a wonderful cultivar that adds some brightness to shaded areas in the yard.
‘Florida Sweetheart’
This sweetheart is a compact caladium variety with a full-sized personality. ‘Florida Sweetheart’ mixes well with other leafy tropicals. Its extra colorful, ruffled foliage has a translucent quality in pale pink between magenta midribs. A green border makes these leaves remind me of a watermelon slice.
‘Florida Sweetheart’ is vigorous and robust. You won’t have to pay much attention, although you may want to. Choose a spot in partial shade with some morning sun to appreciate the tissue-like quality that makes these plants glow.
‘Florida Cardinal’
‘Florida Cardinal’ really emphasizes the heart shape of the leaves. With a bright red heart in the center and distinct green margins, it’s simply lovely. This is a midsized variety that fills out nicely in the ground or a container.
Although these perennials prefer shaded locations outdoors, they prefer bright indirect light indoors. Place them near a window, and they will flourish.
‘Seafoam Pink’
‘Seafoam Pink’ is perfectly pastel and works well in sunnier spaces. The foliage is so pale green, it’s nearly white, true to its name. Splashes of bubblegum pink are everywhere, with some more concentrated toward the center of the ribs. Occasionally a splash of dark green turns up as well.
This hybrid from the University of Florida is moderate-sized with large foliage. It’s known for being more sun-tolerant than others, so it has great versatility.
‘Army’
Do you love camo print? ‘Army’ will bring the wilderness to your home and garden with its bold camouflage vibes. This larger variety is strikingly beautiful and has tons of personality.
‘Army’ looks like it might turn out to be rare, but it’s surprisingly easy to find online. Easy to propagate, you’ll love how ‘Army’ fills a large container or shade bed.
‘Summer Breeze’
‘Summer Breeze’ is a breath of fresh air. White leaves feature pink midribs that fade into green margins and fine veining. The foliage has a shield shape, narrow near the top and wider through the body.
This South American native is a great way to brighten up darker areas in the yard. You can grow these perennials as annuals in cooler climates, or dig up the bulbs and store them for the winter.
‘Hilo Beauty’
Originally classified as an alocasia, ‘Hilo Beauty’ is a caladium, and a pretty one at that. Long, slender stems and shield-shaped leaves make this an elegant specimen. The colors are shades of light and dark green.
This flashy foliage cultivar makes an excellent houseplant. It’s slower growing and doesn’t fill out like most types, but it has a quiet elegance. It can get rather large, at up to four feet tall.
‘Red Flash’
‘Red Flash’ is big, bright, and bold, with some of the largest leaves on the list. Not only are they large, they are especially showy and colorful. A bright red starburst sits centrally, and dark green surrounds it. Small white flecks add even more personality.
This variety is especially vibrant and will certainly get noticed. It is tolerant of full sun, making it versatile outdoors. Its large size makes this a very desirable cultivar.
‘Frog in a Blender’
For the name alone, I can’t leave my favorite variety off the list. ‘Frog in a Blender’ is a glowing masterpiece with a delightfully silly moniker. The foliage is nearly neon with splashes of several darker shades all over.
‘Frog in a Blender’ has attractive, long, slim stems. The leaves bob and sway in a breeze. It is a medium-sized cultivar, and it tolerates a wide range of exposure levels. It is full sun tolerant.
‘Pink Symphony’
‘Pink Symphony’ takes a few years to reach its full potential but is perfectly lovely from the start. Young plants will have bold pink foliage with distinctive markings. The leaves are large and striking.
As this variety ages, the leaves become thinner and lose much of the green tones. Ultimately, this variety ends up with very delicate, papery pink leaves that light passes through easily. It makes an amazing addition to the houseplant collection.
‘Red Star’
As ethereal as ‘Pink Symphony’ can be, ‘Red Star’ is bold and solid. Shades of bright green create a foundation for magenta midribs. Pure white freckles fleck the foliage, adding flash in the cooler, shaded parts of the garden.
Many cultivars have a distinctive star pattern in the center of the leaves. ‘Red Star’ has some of the most well-defined. It has tons of sparkle.
‘Fannie Munson’
‘Fanny Munson’ has large foliage that has a similar translucent quality to ‘Pink Symphony.’ Mostly pink and tissue-thin with a fine, green margin, she will brighten up a dark room.
‘Fanny Munson’ prefers low light and will do very well indoors. Lower light will give you the boldest colors. It is a large variety, so keep that in mind when selecting a container and a location.
‘Florida Red Ruffles’
‘Florida Red Ruffles’ is one of the fancier, compact caladium varieties. It makes an excellent container plant and tolerates a wide range of sun exposures. The leaves are more delicate on this cultivar and have softly ruffled edges. It mixes nicely with ferns, with its primarily red foliage.
These plants in general prefer high humidity. These perennials grow very well in a bathroom window. In other areas of the home, misting or the use of a humidifier is recommended.
‘Kathleen’
‘Kathleen’ is certain to brighten your day with her large, soft pink leaves. An ombre surrounds the powdery pink heart with simple elegance. If she weren’t so beautiful you might call ‘Kathleen’ understated.
Keep her out of direct sun for the nicest colors. ‘Kathleen’ doesn’t like too much light. This makes her a wonderful indoor addition.
‘Dark Chocolate’
‘Dark Chocolate’ is deep and moody, burgundy with even darker midribs and veining. New foliage is bright red before it mellows to its chocolatey maturity. It’s not a very tall type, but the leaves are large on this cultivar.
It’s important to note that these plants contain calcium oxalate crystals. This irritates the mouth and digestive tract when ingested. Keep kids and curious pets away for their own safety.
‘Burning Heart’
This Heart to Heart collection variety is a beauty in shades of copper with green undertones. While most caladium varieties show off their colors best in low light, ‘Burning Heart’ shows off the best and brightest shades in full sun.
Add this medium-sized variety to containers as a thriller or a filler. Its unusual coloring makes it a great match for most other plants.
‘White Queen’
Cool, frosty, and regal, ‘White Queen’ is a rare beauty. The foliage is heart-to-arrow shaped with a large, prominent red starburst in the center. The rest of the leaf is predominantly white but with green margins. The fine veining fades from red to green.
Outdoors, plant this beauty in partial to full shade. As a houseplant, bright, filtered, or indirect light is best. With more light, make sure to give your ‘White Queen’ more water.
‘Florida Moonlight’
The luminescent leaves of ‘Florida Moonlight’ are the palest on my list. Fully white leaves are rare, and these are as close as I’ve seen in this type of plant. They have a translucent quality, and the entire leaf is white except for a very fine, green margin.
‘Florida Moonlight’ looks wonderful in a moon garden as the foliage will glow in the moonlight. Indoors and out partial shade is the exposure this cultivar prefers.
‘Thai Beauty’
The word beauty is right there in the name, and the name is most appropriate. ‘Thai Beauty’ has an exotic loveliness that will add a touch of tropical beauty to your houseplant collection.
‘Thai Beauty’ looks just as wonderful in the shade garden. The leaves are mostly green when young, but as the plant matures it produces more and more pink variegation.
‘Aaron’
‘Aaron’ is cool, calm, and collected. With leaves so cool that they almost appear to be in grayscale when growing in the shade. This is one of the most interesting caladium varieties. The white midribs cross over into the green for a starburst effect.
This variety is tolerant of a wide range of exposures. It can tolerate more light than most types. In the home it needs humidity, and anywhere from medium to bright, indirect light.
