The Garden At Rock Cottage by Lance Brilliantine

Shady Wonder

Thank goodness spring is here. Trees are budding and flowers are blooming. The start of spring weather gets me pondering about how I will lay out flowers, summer bulbs and tubers. I have already planted innumerable seeds, and am delighted to see: bits of green poking through the soil that tell me all is well with the world again.

The orders I placed in winter for seeds and plants to keep myself sane arrive now, week by week. One of the plants I keep an eye out for are those knobby tubers that produce wonderfully textured leaves. No other plant fills shady spots as well, or provide such a carefree, colorful accent to the shade garden.

Of course, I am speaking of Caladiums, a genus of plant that is in the family of plants known as Aracaea. Cultivated in Europe since the late 1700s, caladiums have recently grown in popularity recently, like their cousin the elephant ear. While the leaves are not as enormous, a few well-placed tubers can fill a shady nook.

The genus Caladium includes seven species indigenous to South and Central America. Hence, the plants are not hardy in our zone (only to Zone 10). Many of the most beautiful varieties come from Brazil. In nature, caladiums grow freely in open, forested areas and on the banks of creeks. The wild plants grow to a maximum height of 18 inches, with leaves that grow about six inches long and wide. Cultivated species may be somewhat larger, though there are also dwarf varieties (though I cannot imagine anyone wanting them). In terms of caladiums, larger is better!

These plants prefer partial to full shade and should not be planted until the soil has reached a temperature of about 60 degrees. Leaves may be single or multi-colored, with color combinations of green and pure white, cream, pink, rose, and/or red. Colors vary by veining or by colored botches that appear all along the leaves. These easy to grow plants are a beautiful ground cover or border. They can also be used in pots or hanging baskets. Caladiums are extremely effective when planted in mass plantings. Mixing several varieties together produces a colorful contrast.

Once the ground has warmed, cultivate the soil and amend it with some peat moss. The bulbs thrive in well-drained soil with high-peat content. Plant the tubers with the eyes facing up to a depth of about two inches. For a vivid display, plant the tubers about six-to-seven inches apart. The larger the tuber, the greater the space needed. The largest varieties can be planted to as much as fourteen inches apart. Be aware that planting the tubers closer rather than farther apart increases the height of the stems. Also note that if you plant the tubers before the soil has warmed sufficiently, the leaves take longer to spout.

Caladiums love hot, humid weather. Therefore, they thrive on the East End – provided they do not receive too much sunlight, which burns the leaves. In the right location, the plants paint a garden with color until the first cold nights of autumn.

Once planted, keep the soil damp and lightly fertilize every six weeks with a slow release fertilizer or fish emulsion. The tubers rot if the soil is too wet. And, overly dry soil sends the tubers into dormancy wherein they stop producing leaves.

In the fall, as the leaves die back, lift the tubers before the first freeze. Dry the tubers out for a week before storing in a mesh bag at a temperature no lower than 60 degrees. When digging up the tubers, take care not to damage them as nicks create susceptibility to disease. Keep the tubers dry through winter and plant them again the following spring. The tubers will last for many seasons before needing to be replaced.

Caladiums attract great attention in the garden and are a great solution for problem, shady areas. Their bright colors and color patterns are simply fascinating! Most of the local garden centers and nurseries carry these tubers. However, some of the better and more exotic varieties are only available through mail order.

It is still not too late to witness the wonderful explosion of color that caladiums provide. There are still a few weeks before the soil will have warmed sufficiently to plant them. Don’t miss the opportunity to try at least a few tubers this season!

You can contact Lance Brilliantine with any questions or comments at GardenLance@yahoo.com.