What is a Caladium and where does it come from?

The Caladium, nicknamed 'angel wings' or 'painter's palette', is a tropical tuberous plant native to the Brazilian Amazon and neighboring regions (French Guiana, Venezuela, Colombia). Discovered in 1767 by naturalist Philibert Commerson, it became one of the most sought-after exotic plants in European interiors during the 19th century.

How many varieties of Caladium are there and which ones does Verdeia offer?

More than 1,000 cultivars exist from the single species Caladium bicolor. The Verdeia collection offers the most decorative varieties: 'Sweetheart' (pink edged with green), ivory white veined, carmine red bordered with dark green, spotted pink, green and pink bicolor, and 'Miss Muffet', a compact dwarf variety ideal for small spaces.

How do you water a Caladium and how often?

Watering should be regular and generous from March to October, keeping the substrate moist without soaking it. Daily misting of the foliage compensates for indoor dryness and preserves the brightness of the colors. During the winter dormancy period (November to February), gradually reduce watering until very infrequent watering.

Why do the leaves of my Caladium turn yellow and fall off in winter?

This is completely normal: the Caladium is a tuberous plant that naturally goes dormant from November to February. The leaves yellow and then fall off — this is not a disease but its normal cycle. Reduce watering from September, keep the tuber dry and cool (15-18 °C) during winter, then resume watering in spring for new growth.

Is Caladium toxic to pets and children?

Yes, Caladium contains toxic calcium oxalates if ingested by animals (cats, dogs) or young children. It is recommended to keep it out of their reach. Check our guide to toxic plants for all precautions to take in a family environment.

How do you repot a Caladium and what substrate should you use?

Repot the Caladium in spring, just before growth resumes, in a slightly larger pot with good drainage. Use a humus-rich substrate high in organic matter, ideally a mix of potting soil and coconut fiber, which retains moisture without soaking the roots.

How do you propagate a Caladium by dividing tubers?

Caladium multiplies easily by dividing tubers in spring. Gently remove the tuber after winter dormancy, separate the secondary bulbs from the main tuber, and replant each piece in a humus-rich substrate. Growth resumes in 3 to 4 weeks at a minimum temperature of 22 °C.

In which room and what decor style should you place a Caladium?

Its spectacular shape makes it a visual centerpiece on its own: a white variety in a decorative pot terracotta on an entry console creates a 'living painting' effect. A pink Caladium in the bathroom turns the room into a tropical spa. It pairs perfectly with an Alocasia with graphic leaves or a red-flowering Anthurium for a cohesive tropical trio.

Caladium — Tropical angel wings with leaves painted like watercolors

Q: What kind of light exposure is suitable for indoor Caladium?

Caladium prefers bright indirect light, never direct sun which would burn its delicate leaves. Ideal rooms are a well-lit bathroom, a bright kitchen, or a living room facing east-north with a window filtered by a sheer curtain. It hates cold drafts and temperatures below 16 °C.

From wild green and pink bicolor to the delicate green-edged pink 'Sweetheart', including the compact dwarf 'Miss Muffet' and white, red, or bright pink variants: Caladiums offer the most spectacular foliage of all houseplants. With over 1,000 cultivars, leaves as fine as Japanese paper, and a natural winter dormancy that brings the surprise of their return in spring.

Caladium — Tropical angel wings with leaves painted like watercolors

The Caladium, sometimes nicknamed "angel wings," "heart of Jesus," or "painter's palette," is arguably the most spectacular indoor plant when it comes to foliage. The genus includes about a dozen tropical tuberous species native to the Brazilian Amazon and neighboring regions (French Guiana, Venezuela, Colombia), where they grow in the bright areas of the humid forest. It was in 1767 that the French naturalist Philibert Commerson discovered the Caladium in Brazil and brought it back to Europe, where it became one of the most sought-after exotic plants in greenhouses and bourgeois interiors in the 19th century.

What makes the Caladium unique is the incredible variety of patterns and colors on its large heart-shaped leaves: more than 1,000 cultivars exist today from the single species Caladium bicolor, ranging from white veined with green to baby pink edged, from deep speckled red to bicolor green and carmine. Its leaves, almost translucent in appearance, look painted with watercolors — hence one of its nicknames.

Sweetheart, Miss Muffet, white, red, pink: choosing your variety

The Verdeia collection brings together the main horticultural varieties of Caladium bicolor, in a color palette for all interior styles. The 'Sweetheart' plays the romantic card with its pink leaves bordered with soft green, perfect for a gentle and feminine atmosphere. The white variety with ivory leaves veined in green brings bright luminosity, ideal for minimalist or Scandinavian interiors. The red, with deep carmine foliage edged in dark green, structures a bohemian or tropical decor. The pink variety is the most versatile: its leaves spotted with bright pink on a green background fit into all styles. The bicolor, closer to the wild species, plays on the green and pink contrast in balanced proportions. Finally, the 'Miss Muffet' is a compact dwarf variety, particularly well suited to small spaces and window sill arrangements. To compare with other graphic foliage, the selection of decorative foliage plants gathers the most striking species in the catalog.

Light, watering, and care for Caladium

Caladium enjoys bright indirect light and high atmospheric humidity — a direct legacy of its Amazonian habitat. It hates direct sun, which burns its delicate leaves, and poorly tolerates cold drafts. The ideal temperature is around 20-22 °C, never dropping below 16 °C even at night. The most suitable rooms are a well-lit bathroom, a bright kitchen, or a living room facing east-north with a window filtered by a sheer curtain.

Watering should be regular and generous during the growing period (March to October), keeping the substrate moist without soaking it. Daily misting of the foliage compensates for the dryness of our interiors and preserves the brightness of the colors. The complete watering guide details the right habits to avoid frequency mistakes. An important feature of Caladium: it is a tuberous plant that naturally goes dormant from November to February. The leaves yellow and then fall — this is not a disease, it is the normal cycle. Gradually reduce watering from September, keep the tuber dry and cool (15-18 °C) during winter, then resume watering in spring. If yellowing occurs out of season, the yellow leaves guide helps identify the cause. Caladium contains calcium oxalates toxic if ingested: place it out of reach of pets and young children — see the toxic plants guide.

Caladium as a centerpiece: bathroom, living room, or bedroom

In terms of decoration, Caladium is one of the rare plants that can serve as a visual centerpiece on its own, without needing to be surrounded. A white variety in a terracotta decorative pot placed on an entry console immediately creates a "living painting" effect. A pink Caladium in the bathroom, next to a bathtub or on a vanity unit, transforms the room into a tropical spa. To structure a more complete plant scene, pairing it with an Alocasia with graphic leaves (a botanical cousin of Caladium in the Araceae family) or a red-flowering Anthurium creates a tropical trio of rare coherence. The room-by-room guide details the best combinations according to each space’s layout.

Propagation, tuber storage, and spring restart

Good news for enthusiasts: Caladium is easily propagated by dividing tubers in spring, just before growth resumes. Gently remove the tuber from its pot after winter dormancy, separate the secondary bulbs that have appeared on the main tuber, and replant each piece in a humus-rich substrate (a mix of potting soil and coconut fiber). Growth resumes in 3 to 4 weeks at a minimum of 22 °C. To start a new Caladium well at home, the guide for welcoming a new plant explains the essential steps for the first weeks to ensure acclimation and reveal the full intensity of the colors.