Caladium 'Florida Cardinal' (v)

RHS Plant Profile

elephant ear 'Florida Cardinal'

Synonyms

Caladium 'Cardinal'

Bedding Conservatory Greenhouse Houseplants

A tropical, tuberous perennial grown mainly as a foliage houseplant but can also be used for bedding. It has heart-shaped red leaves with wide green margins, held on slender, upright stalks

Position

Full shade, Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 1–2 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full shade Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H1B

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Araceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Potentially harmful: Humans/Pets: Harmful if eatenskin/eye irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus: Caladium are tuberous flowering plants, often grown as houseplants and known for their large, arrowhead shaped leaves. They are commonly known as 'elephant ears'
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Start the tubers off in pots of houseplant compost in early spring. Plant the tubers so that their growing tip is about 5cm below the soil level. Water sparingly initially and keep the pots warm (about 20°C) to help them come out of their winter dormancy. Protect from direct sun, which can burn the foliage. In autumn the foliage will begin to die back; suspend watering and remove withered top growth. Either lift and store the tubers or keep them in their pots over winter. Start them back into growth the following spring

Propagation

Propagate by division of tubers

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Houseplants
Sub-tropical
Bedding
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free