Caladiums

Caladiums are shade-loving tropical plants valued for their foliage rather than their flowers.  Heart-shaped leaves combine amazingly vibrant shades of red, pink, purple, green, yellow, and white in complex patterns composed of a base color accented by other colors in stripes, mottling, borders, blotches, and spots.  The patterns are unique to variety, and even from leaf to leaf in detail.  Because it is the foliage that is decorative the display lasts from midsummer to frost.

There are two basic types of caladiums:  fancy-leaved (the most common) and lanced-leaved caladiums.  Not surprisingly, leaf shape is the distinguishing feature.   Fancy leaved varieties have more rounded, heart-shaped leaves.  Lance-leaved varieties have longer, narrower leaves shaped like a spear head.  Otherwise, they share attributes.

Note: All parts of this tropical plant are poisonous, so caution is advised around children.