Shade Loving Caladiums

The rains have brought about so much growth in the garden this year. Trees which had been rather lackluster have grown literally inches over the course of a few weeks, providing shade in places which were formerly sunny. For newly shaded spots in the garden there is a plant choice who positively adores mottled to deep shade. The family of leafy Caladiums are the rock stars of shade… they are an easy to grow tuber who will provide vibrant color until frost.

Originally from the Amazon Basin in the rain forests of South America, they were first introduced to horticulture through specimens collected in 1773 in Western Brazil. The original plants were plain green leaves with random spots of red and white. Interest in this leaf was intense and exploration by two Frenchmen in 1858 resulted in four additional species. The Parisian horticulture circle began earnestly hybridizing the species and by the early 1860’s there were additional specimens available. Triomphe de l’Exposition’ and ‘Candidum’, developed by Louis Van Houtte and Alfred Blue, have maintained popularity since that time and are still available today. Caladiums were introduced to the United States by Adolph Leitze, a German living in Brazil, who exhibited his collection at the World Fair in Chicago, IL in 1893.

Once in the United States, Caladium production settled in Florida, and virtually all caladiums available today begin life there. Henry Nehrling began breeding and he is credited with creating many familiar varieties which are still popular today. F.M. Joyner, a postman from Tampa, was the next to hybridize and in 1937 he introduced an all time favorite, the ‘White Queen’. (Pictured above)

Of course science continues to race along and the humble leaf discovered in the Rain Forest has become a global sensation with over 2,000 varieties available today.

According to Dr. Dr. Robert Hartman, President of Classic Caladiums, ‘The color ranges from the purest white to the deepest red, and from the most delicate transparent bluish and pinkish-white to the deepest translucent claret, scarlet and purple. Some of the colors sparkle like precious stones; there is nothing in the whole floral kingdom that can compare with this brilliancy and beauty‘. His assessment of Caladiums is correct.

*Hybridization is the genetic alteration of plants to create a new species. This alteration is performed by dedicated individuals who spend countless hours in research… they are to be commended for giving us new species to enjoy each season. Now is the time to plant Caladiums for the soil must be 70 degrees or higher for them to begin growing.