Heart to Heart® Heart And Soul Caladium

Light Needs

Full Shade to Full Sun

(Can Grow In Most Sunlight Conditions)

Mature Height

1-1.5 Feet

Mature Spread

8-10 Inches

If you want a plant with foliage as pretty as most any flower, look to Heart to Heart ‘Heart and Soul’ Caladium. You’ll never look back. Caladium (C. hortulanum) is a tropical-like plant that comes as a tuber or potted plant. But it’s what happens above the ground that really matters, and this new caladium boasts heart-shaped leaves (strap leaves) with white centers, pink to deep red spots, and a deep green border. Staring is impolite, but unavoidable with this colorful caladium.

Although caladiums are annual plants, you can grow them in containers outdoors and then indoors when the weather cools. Or plant several as a mass planting to add color to an otherwise dull garden bed or to border a walkway. The plants grow upright and typically reach 15 to 20 inches high and about 10 inches around. So, they also work well as thriller plants in indoor/outdoor containers. Outdoors, they perform well in sun and shade. Indoors, place them before a sunny window.

Heart to Heart Heart And Soul Caladium Care

Plant Heart and Soul caladium in spring or early summer, depending on your garden zone. Plant it later in northern climates and give it a little more sun. In southern and southwest areas, plant in spring with more shade. In cooler, drier climates, place the tuber in a container so you can bring it in later to grow as a houseplant. Tubers should go into the ground about 2 inches from the top of the soil, with the pointed end facing upward.

These plants require plenty of warmth and humidity and average water. They make pretty additions to landscapes in humid climates and to sunrooms. But even though they like humidity, they don’t want to sit in soggy soil, so avoid overwatering. Feed your caladium regularly but use about one-fourth the strength of fertilizer you use for flowering annuals. Adding too much fertilizer can burn the pretty leaves. Be aware that caladiums can be toxic if ingested and place them appropriately away from little people and pets.

Heart to Heart Heart And Soul Caladium Spacing

Place a mass planting of caladiums about 8 to 10 inches apart for a red and green carpet of color. Use them to tie together borders or garden beds that get a combination of sun and shade exposure. In containers, plant your caladium in front of a taller plant or in the center with shorter annuals surrounding the large, colorful leaves.

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CALTLQT