Shady Garden Shrubs

Shady Garden Shrubs

One of the challenges to gardening is selecting plants that grow in part-shade to shade. The way I define part-shade to shade to my retail customers is like walking into a forest. At the outer edge of the forest you are in full sun light and as you enter the forest the light begins to be part-shade as you look around some plants are receiving sun whereas other plants are receiving shade. This is part-shade a little bit of sun and a little bit of shade from sun rise to sun set. As you enter into the middle of the forest the sunlight cannot be seen and this is what would be defined as shade or full shade. As you exit the forest the sunlight becomes brighter and the plants in the forest are receiving part-shade again; and as you walk out of the forest you are in full sunlight again.

The palette of shady garden plants to choose from is numerous. There are shrubs, perennials, annuals, and trees. There are numerous plants in each category and we will discuss Shady Garden Shrubs: Shrubs are defined as plants with multiple stems, but some shrubs can reach a mature height of 20 feet or more when not pruned. Some shrubs that can reach 20 feet or more can be trained to be trees with a central leader stem. 

Arrowwood Viburnum – Viburnum dentatum: Zones: 2-8. Height: 6-10 feet. Spacing: 6-8 feet apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Privacy shrub, small tree, specimen, borders.

Aucuba – Aucuba japonica: Zones: 6-10. Height: 6-10 feet. Spacing: 5-7 feet apart. Light: Partial shade to shade. Uses: Hedge, screen, containers, accent, specimen.

Azalea – Rhododendron spp.: Zones: 4-9. Height: 2.5 to 10 feet, depending on cultivar. Spacing: 3-5 feet apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade, depending on cultivar. Uses: The shorter cultivars in borders or beds, the taller cultivars as hedges or specimens.

Beautyberry – Callicarpa americana: Zones: 6-10. Height: 6-8 feet. Spacing: 3-5 feet apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Woodland plantings, mass plantings, screening, attracts birds and butterflies, fall-winter interest.   

Beautyberry – Callicarpa americana

Carol Mackie Daphne – Daphne X burkwoodii ‘Carol Mackie’: Zones: 4-8. Height: 2-3 feet. Spacing: 2-3 feet apart. Light: Partial shade. Uses: Woodland plantings, entrances (to enjoy the fragrant blossoms), shrub borders, accent.

Chinese Mahonia – Mahonia fortunei: Zones: 7-10. Height: 4-6 feet. Spacing: 3-4 feet apart. Light: Partial shade to shade. Uses: Woodland garden, hedge, specimen, accent, border, container.

Cleyera – Ternstroemia gymnanthera: Zones: 7-11. Height: 6-8 feet. Spacing: 3-5 feet apart. Light: Partial shade to shade. Uses: Screen, hedge, foundation, container.

Climbing Hydrangea – Hydrangea anomala subsp. petiolaris: Zones: 4-8. Height: To 40 feet. Spacing: 5-10 feet apart. Light: Partial shade to shade. Uses: Trellis, arbors, fences, low retaining walls, tree trunks.

Dwarf Yaupon Holly – Ilex vomitoria ‘Nana’: Zones: 7-10. Height: 3-5 feet. Spacing: 4-6 feet apart. Light: Full sun to shade. Uses: Foundation, low hedge, planter boxes, mass plantings.

Dwarf Yaupon Holly

Fatshedera – X Fatshedera lizei: Zones: 7-11. Height: 3-5 feet. Spacing: 3-5 feet apart. Light: Partial shade to shade. Uses: The plant is considered semi-climbing vine/shrub. Containers, trellis, arbor, groundcover.

Fatsia – Fatsia japonica: Zones: 7-10. Height: 8-10 feet. Spacing: 4-6 feet apart. Light: Partial shade to shade. Uses: Japanese gardens, houseplant, container, shade gardens, the large foliage will give a tropical look to landscapes and gardens.

Florida Anise – Illicium floridanum: Zones: 7-10. Height: 8 feet. Spacing: 4-6 feet apart. Light: Partial shade to shade. Uses: Hedge, specimen, woodland gardens.  

Florida Anise

Hemlocks – Tsuga canadensis: Zones: 3-7. Height: 40-70 feet. Spacing: 25-30 feet apart. Light: Partial shade to shade. Uses: Screen, specimen, woodland gardens. There are several Tsuga cultivars from dwarf to large trees and all will take partial shade to shade.

Hetz Japanese Holly – Ilex crenata ‘Hetzii’: Zones: 5-9. Height: 3-6 feet. Spacing: 3-4 feet apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Mass or group plantings, hedge, borders, oriental gardens.

Hydrangeas – Hydrangea spp.: Zones: 5-9. Height: 3-15 feet, depending on variety. Spacing: 3-5 feet apart. Light: Partial shade to shade. Uses: Group plantings, woodland gardens, specimen, cut flowers, container, and the shorter varieties can be used in borders.

Japanese Boxwood – Buxus spp.: Zones: 5-9. Height: 2-5 feet. Spacing: 3-5 feet apart. Light: Full sun to shade. Uses: Topiary, foundation, container, hedge, border.

Boxwood

Japanese Pieris – Pieris japonica: Zones: 3-9. Height: 3-8 depending on variety. Spacing: 4-6 feet apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Woodland gardens, borders, accent, containers.

Japanese Pittosporum – Pittosporum tobira: Zones: 7-10. Height: 2-10 feet, depending on cultivar. Spacing 4-6 feet apart. Light: Full sun to shade. Uses: Mass plantings, screen, borders, foundation, hedge.

Japanese Rose – Kerria japonica: Zones: 4-9. Height: 3-6 feet. Spacing: 6-8 feet apart. Light: Partial shade to shade. Uses: Woodland gardens, hedge, specimen, group plantings.

Leatherleaf Mahonia – Mahonia bealei: Zones: 6-9. Height: 4-8 feet. Spacing: 3-5 feet apart. Light: Partial shade to shade. Uses: Woodland gardens, specimen, containers, screening, barrier.

Mountain Laurels – Kalmia latifolia: Zones: 4-9. Height: 2-8 feet depending on variety. Spacing: 3-5 feet apart. Light: Partial shade to shade. Uses: Woodland gardens, compliments Rhododendrons and Azaleas, group plantings, accent.

Nandina – Nandina domestica: Zones: 6-9. Height: 2-8 feet. Spacing: 2-4 feet apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: group plantings, vertical accent, shorter varieties can be used in beds and borders, informal hedge.  

Nandina

Rhododendron – Rhododendron spp.: Zones: 4-9. Height: 2-8 feet, depending on variety. Spacing: 4-6 feet apart. Light: Partial shade to shade. Uses: The taller varieties can be used in screening, companion plant with Azaleas, shorter varieties can be used in borders, group plantings, accent, and woodland gardens.

Sky Pencil Holly – Ilex crenata ‘Sky Pencil’: Zones: 5-9. Height: 4-10 feet. Spacing: 1-3 feet apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Vertical accent, container, entryways, screening, accent, great for small gardens or tight spaces.

Southern Wax Myrtle – Morella cerifera: Zones: 7-10. Height: 10-15 feet, can reach up to 25 feet. Spacing: 6-8 feet apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Screen, hedge, attracts wildlife, accent, specimen. 

Southern Wax Myrtle

Tea Olive – Osmanthus fragrans: Zones: 7-11. Height: 8-10 feet. Spacing: 6-8 feet apart. Light: Full sun to partial shade. Uses: Shrub, hedge, screen, espalier, fragrant flowers.
Yews – Taxus spp.: Zones: 4-8. Height2-20 feet, depending on variety. Spacing: 3-10 feet apart, depending on variety. Light: Full sun to shade. Uses: Hedge, screen, borders, groundcover, topiaries.

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Salt Tolerant Gardening

Salt Tolerant Plants

Mother Nature never ceases to amaze me with her wonderful array of plants that can take any gardening condition you have. As gardeners we have certain conditions we have to fulfill or gardens we want to do. No matter what the condition or specific 

Bottlebrush

garden we want to design Mother Nature has got you covered. You want to attract wildlife to your garden such as hummingbirds, butterflies, or birds Mother Nature has you covered. You have other climatic conditions such as plants that tolerate drought, or salt, or both. She has you covered and the really neat aspect to Mother Nature is that most of the time the plants will fill more than one category you are trying to design for such as designing a butterfly garden. A few butterfly plants will also attract hummingbirds, too.

Gardening along ocean front property or near the ocean can be very challenging, but also very rewarding. To do this all the gardener needs to do is select plants that can tolerate sea-side conditions and tolerate saline conditions.

Frangipani

The benefits of gardening are: Plants clean the air by removing pollutants and providing us with fresh air; Plants provide oxygen; Plants cool the streets and the 

Geiger Tree

cities; Plants encourage people to healthy lifestyles such as walking, jogging, biking, or going to parks; Plants raise property values; Plants provide food for humans, birds, and wildlife; Plants heal. Studies show people heal faster with green ambience outside their windows.

Salt tolerance or saline conditions describes whether or not a plant can withstand saline conditions, salt spray, or both. Salt tolerant plants are exposed to salt spray, windy conditions, saline soils and water.There are three general conditions: 1)"Yes" indicates plants can withstand saline conditions, salt spray, salt drift, exposed coastal areas, and areas with saline irrigation water; 2)"Moderate" indicates the plant can withstand some saline conditions but should be protected from direct salt spray; and 3)"No" indicates the plant should be well-protected from saline conditions and salt spray.

Established is a plant growing in the garden for a year or more. Plants need to be established in the garden before any additional care is needed. The gardener would follow traditional rules of gardening seaside as to gardening away from the ocean and salt spray. Watering Guidelines: water newly transplanted plants 3 times a week in the spring and summer months; during the fall and winter months 2 times a week for a year.

Lignum Vitae

Let’s explore salt tolerant plants. To help in the design process the plants being discussed are divided into trees, palms, shrubs, perennials, groundcovers and vines.

Highly Salt tolerant Trees 

Aleppo Pine: Pinus halepensis - Height: 30-60’. Width: 10-15’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Bottle Brush: Callistemon lanceolatus – Height: 20-25’. Width: 10-15’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Buttonwood: Conocarpus erectus – Height: 25-30’. Width: 25-30’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Devilwood: Osmanthus americanus – Height: 15-25’. Width: 10-20’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Frangipani – Plumeria spp. - Height: 20-25’. Width: 15-25’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Deciduous.

Geiger Tree: Cordia sebestena – Height: 25-30’. Width: 20-25’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.  

Japanese Black Pine: Pinus thunbergii – Height: 20-60’. Width: 12-20’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Lignum Vitae: Guaiacum sanctum - Height: 25-30’. Width: 20-25’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Live Oak: Quercus virginiana – Height: 40-60’. Width: 60-80’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Mahogany: Swietenia mahagoni - Height: 40-60’. Width: 40-60’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Ochrosia: Ochrosia elliptica - Height: 20-25’. Width: 15-25’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.
 

Ochrosia

Red Bay: Persea borbonia – Height: 30-50’. Width: 30-50’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Sand Pine: Pinus clausa – Height: 25-40’. Width: 15-25’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Wax Myrtle: Morella cerifera (Myrica cerifera) – Height: 10-20’. Width:10-20’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Yaupon: Ilex vomitoria - Height: 15-20’. Width: 10-15’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Highly Salt tolerant Palms

Blue Latan Palm: Latania loddigesii – Height: 30-35’. Width: 15’. Light Requirements: Full sun. Evergreen.

Bottle Palm: Hyophorbe lagenicaulis – Height: 12-15’. Width: 10-15’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Canary Island Date Palm: Phoenix canariensis – Height: 40-60’. Width: 30-40’. Light Requirements: Full sun. Evergreen.

Coconut Palm: Cocos nucifera – Height: 60-80’. Width: 25-35’. Light Requirements: Full sun. Evergreen.  

Coconut Palm

Key Thatch Palm: Leucothrinax morrisii (Thrinax morrisii) – Height: 15-25’. Width: 8-10’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Sabal Palm, Cabbage Palm: Sabal palmetto – Height: 40-60’. Width: 15-20’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Saw Palmetto: Serenoa repens - Height: 8-10’. Width: 4-6’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Silver Palm: Coccothrinax argentata – Height: 15-20’. Width: 15-20’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Washington Palm: Washingtonia robusta – Height: 80-100’. Width: 25-35’. Light Requirements: Full sun. Evergreen.

Highly Salt tolerant Shrubs

Century Plant: Agave Americana – Height: 5-7’. Width: 8-12’. Light Requirements: Full sun. Evergreen.

Cocoplum: Chrysobalanus icaco – Height: To 15’. Width: 5-7’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Dwarf Myrtle: Myrtus communis – Height: 8-10’. Width: 4-6’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Dwarf Oleander: Nerium oleander ‘Petite Salmon’ – Height: 4-5’. Width: 3-5’. Light Requirements: Full sun. Evergreen.  

Dwarf Oleander

Dwarf Pittosporum: Pittosporum tobira ‘Wheeler's Dwarf’- Height: 3-4’. Width: 4-6’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Dwarf Rosemary, Prostrate Rosemary: Salvia rosmarinus (Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Prostratus’) – Height: 2’. Width: 18-24”. Light Requirements: Full sun. Evergreen.

Dwarf Yaupon Holly: Ilex vomitoria ‘Schellings Dwarf’- Height: 2-4’. Width: 3-5’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen. Varieties: Nana and Bordeaux are included.

Ebbingei's Silverberry: Elaeagnus X ebbingei – Height: 10-15’. Width: 10-15’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Fruitland Elaeagnus: Elaeagnus pungens ‘Fruitlandii’ - Height: 10-15’. Width: 10-15’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Indian Hawthorn: Rhaphiolepis indica – Height: 3-4’. Width: 4-6’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Indian Hawthorn

Inkberry: Scaevola plumieri – Height: 4-6’. Width: 4-8’. Light Requirements: Full sun. Evergreen.

Japanese Pittosporum: Pittosporum tobira – Height: 8-10’. Width: 6-8’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Lantana: Lantana camara – Height: 3-6’. Width: 4-6’. Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen to deciduous depending on zone.

Natal Plum: Carissa macrocarpa – Height: To 10’. Width: 5-7’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Oleander: Nerium oleander – Height: To 20’. Width: 10-15’. Light Requirements: Full sun. Evergreen.

Rosemary: Salvia rosmarinus (Rosmarinus officinalis) – Height: 3-6’. Width: 4-6’. Light Requirements: Full sun. Evergreen.

Spanish Bayonet: Yucca aloifolia – Height: To 15’. Width: 4-8’. Light Requirements: Full sun. Evergreen.

Spanish Bayon

Variegated Pittosporum: Pittosporum tobira ‘Variegatum’ – Height: 4-6’. Width: 4-6’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade. Evergreen.

Highly Salt tolerant Perennials

Baby Sun Rose: Aptenia cordifolia (Mesembryanthemum cordifolium) - Height: 6”. Width: 18-24”. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.

Beach Sunflower: Helianthus debilis – Height: 12-24”. Width: 24-36”. Light Requirements: Full sun.

Blue Daze: Evolvulus glomeratus – Height: 10-12”. Width: 12-18”. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.

Day Lily: Hemerocallis sp. – Height: 1-4’. Width: 15-24”. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.

Gaillardia, Indian Blanket: Gaillardia pulchella – Height: 12-18”. Width: 12-18”. Light Requirements: Full sun.

Gazania Daisy: Gazania rigens var. leucolaena – Height: 12-18”. Width: 12”. Light Requirements: Full sun. 

Gazania Daisy

Golden Shrub Daisy: Euryops pectinatus ‘Viridis’ – Height: 4-6’. Width: 4-6’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.

Lance-leaved Coreopsis: Coreopsis lanceolata – Height: 18-36”. Width: 18-24”. Light Requirements: Full sun.

Madagascar Periwinkle: Catharanthus roseus – Height: 10-12”. Width: 10-12”. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.

Periwinkle

Portulaca, Moss Rose: Portulaca grandiflora – Height: 4-6”. Width: 12”. Light Requirements: Full sun.

Sea Oxeye Daisy: Borrichia frutescens - Height: 2-4’. Width: 18-24”. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.

Silver Sea Oxeye Daisy: Borrichia arborescens – Height: 2-4’. Width: 18-24”. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.

Highly Salt tolerant Groundcovers

Blue Pacific Shore Juniper: Juniperus conferta ‘Blue Pacific’ – Height: 12-18”. Width: 3-4’. Light Requirements: Full sun.

Creeping Lily Turf: Liriope spicata – Height: 12”. Width: 12-18”. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.

Creeping Lily Turf

Dwarf Rosemary, Prostrate Rosemary: Salvia rosmarinus (Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Prostratus’) – Height: 12-18”. Width: 18-24”. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.

Mondo Grass, Monkey Grass: Ophiopogon japonicus – Height: 12”. Width: 12-24”. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.

Star Jasmine, Confederate Jasmine: Trachelospermum jasminoides – Height: Variable. Width: 24-36”. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.

Trailing Lantana: Lantana montevidensis – Height: 12-24”. Width: 24-36”. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.

Highly Salt tolerant Vines

Bougainvillea: Bougainvillea spectabilis – Height: Variable. Width: 36-48”. Light Requirements: Full sun.

Cape Honeysuckle: Tecoma capensis (Tecomaria capensis) – Height: To 20’. Width: 4-6’. Light Requirements: Full sun.  

Cape Honeysuckle

Palay Rubber Vine: Cryptostegia grandiflora – Height: To 20’. Width: 4-6’. Light Requirements: Full sun.

Flame Vine: Pyrostegia venusta (P. ignea) - Height: To 20’. Width: 4-6’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.

Flowering Jasmine: Chrysojasminum floridum (Jasminum floridum) Height: 5’. Width: 3-5’. Light Requirements: Full sun to partial shade.

Photography and digital images are ©Cheryl Ann Meola 2020. All Rights Reserved. All photographs and digital images displayed in this article are for viewing purposes only and cannot be duplicated. ©Cheryl Ann Meola 2013. Texas Certified Nursery Professional #1282.

 

Sun Loving Caladiums

Sun Tolerant Caladiums

Spring is coming soon, Thursday, March 19 2020 and as the weather warms and soil temperature rise, we need to survey our garden. Very soon we will be back in our 

White Wing Caladium

gardens again. To tell you the truth I can’t wait any longer. We have been teased by Mother Nature this year with one or two weeks of warm weather days only for her to change her mind and bring back cooler weather days. Mother Nature says “no not yet, it’s too early”. I go to garden centers tempted to purchase, but I know better. There are some items that can be purchased now and planted later once the soil warms and that is spring bulbs or tubers. There are numerous spring bulbs or tubers to plant in the spring, but there is one that has been under-utilized in the garden or containers and that is Caladiums.

Caladiums can be planted in shade or sun depending on the variety. They are planted for their dramatic tropical foliage and versatility. Their heart-shaped leaves and colorful foliage will brighten the shadiest or sunniest areas of the garden. There are numerous color combinations of white, red, and pink. If that hasn’t enticed you to try caladiums this year, caladiums are on the easy-care plant list.

There are two types of classification for Caladiums: fancy-leaved and strap or lance-leaved varieties. Varieties range in heights from 12’’ – 30’’. Fancy-leaved varieties have much larger foliage whereas strap or lanced-leaved varieties have slender leaves, thicker foliage, and compact habit of growth. Caladiums do have an inflorescence (flower), but it is considered not showy. The flower like bud is called a spathe, which is a modified leaf that is not showy considered to other plants, which have a showy spathe, for example Spathiphyllum plant. There is still some disagreement as to trim the spathe or not. I personally trim the spathe back when they appear to promote more foliage.

Caladium tubers are graded by size #1, #2, #3. #1 tubers are larger with more growth points or eyes. The more growth points, the more foliage. When purchasing your tubers, I recommend #1. The tubers should be plump and firm, not soft or shriveled.

Caladiums can be planted in sun or shade depending on variety. Planting sun-loving caladiums in western exposures will require more water during July and August. They are winter hardy in zones 9-11. In zones 3-8 caladiums are treated as an annual.

Caladiums can be planted March-July or when the soil temperature is 65 degrees or above, which usually is after all danger of frost in your area. Plant the tubers 1-1½’’ deep and space 12’’ apart. Add bone meal to the planting hole. Place the caladium tuber smooth side down, with the points up. Fertilize monthly with a 6-6-6. Mulch after planting. Listed below are sun-loving varieties to try this spring.

Aaron: Height: 20 inches. Width: 12-18 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Large heart-shaped leaves with a white center that flows white veins of the leaf ending with marginal, medium green edges. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Brandywine: Height: 18 inches. Width: 12-18 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Large heart-shaped leaves with deep wine-red center, red veins, with dark green margins. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Carolyn Whorton: Height: 18-24 inches. Width: 12-18 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Large heart-shaped leaves, light pink center, red veins, mottling green through out the leaves, ending with a medium green border. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Fannie Munson: Height: 18-24 inches. Width: 12-18 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Large heart-shaped translucent leaves, deep pink to red mid-veins with light green margins. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Fiesta: Height: 12 inches. Width: 12 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Color: Large heart-shaped, white center, deep pink to red central veining. The wide red to pink veins, bright white background, ending with green pin-striping along the borders of the leaves make a Fiesta to your garden. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Fire Chief: Height: 18-24 inches. Width: 12-18 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Large to medium heart-shaped leaves, deep pink to red background with medium green mottled through out the leaves. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Flamingo: Height: 18-24 inches. Width: 12-24 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Large to medium heart-shaped leaves, hot pink to candy pink background with wide emerald green margins. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Florida Fantasy: Height: 18-24 inches. Width: 12-24 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Large to medium heart-shaped leaves, snow white background, deep red mid-veins, with green spidery veins ending with small green edges. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Florida Sweetheart: Height: 12 inches. Width: 12-15 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Lance, ruffled shaped leaves of rosy pink with deeper rose veining through-out the leaf ending thin green margins. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Freida Hemple: Height: 18-24 inches. Width: 12-24 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Large fancy-leaf, deep red background, red veins, ending with wavy, green margins. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Frog In A Blender: Height: 18-22 inches. Width: 12-18 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Large fancy-leaf, wildly random, artfully splotched variegation from gorgeous lime to deep forest green. Frog In A Blender makes a perfect combination with all caladium varieties and combination planters. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Garden White: Height: 24-36 inches. Width: 18-24 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Large creamy white fancy leaf, green vein netting ending to a dark green margin. Garden White pairs beautifully with deeper red or pink caladium varieties. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Gingerland: Height: 12-15 inches. Width: 12-18 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Strap-leaf leaves, creamy white background with red to pink flecks ending with a rich, dark green margin. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Lance Whorton: Height: 12-18 inches. Width: 12-18 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Strap-leaf leaves, crimson background, main and mid-veins, flecks of white throughout ending with a slightly wavy, rich green border. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Miss Muffet: Height: 12 inches. Width: 12-14 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Strap-leaf chartreuse leaves, pink to deep red freckles, white mid-veins, ending with ruffled edges. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Moonlight: Height: 18-22 inches. Width: 12-24 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Bright, pure white heart-shaped leaves, pale green spidery veins throughout, ending with a thin green border. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Pearl Blush: Height: 12-14 inches. Width: 12-18 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Strap/lance leaves that open pink that turn white as they mature, pink mid-veins, ending with emerald green wavy edges. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Pink Gem: Height: 12-14 inches. Width: 12-15 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Bright, rosy pink strap/lance leaves, freckles of white, crimson veining, ending with a green border. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Pink Symphony: Height: 12-14 inches. Width: 12-15 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Translucent pink strap/lance leaves, green mid-veins ending with wavy edges. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Postman Joyner: Height: 22-24 inches. Width: 20-24 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Large, deep, ruby red heart-shaped leaves, prominent red mid-veins ending with a deep emerald green border. This variety has deepest of all the reds. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Red Flash: Height: 20 inches. Width: 18-20 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Large, deep, ruby red heart-shaped leaves, red veins, pink and white speckles, dark green background and borders. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Red Frill: Height: 14-16 inches. Width: 14-16 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Large, deep red strap/lance leaves, wavy dark green border. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Red Ruffles: Height: 12-14 inches. Width: 8-10 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Compact deep red, strap/lance leaves with wavy green border. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Rosebud: Height: 18 inches. Width: 12-18 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color:  Fancy, candy pink center and mid-veins leaves, intertwined with frosty green and white background ending with a bright green border. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Royal Flush: Height: 16-20 inches. Width: 14-16 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Deep red medium to large fancy leaves, red veins ending with a green border. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Spring Fling: Height: 18-24 inches. Width: 16-18 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Large hot pink fancy leaves with dark green to black veins. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Strawberry Star: Height: 16-18 inches. Width: 12-14 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Medium to large white fancy leaves sporting light green mid-veins and green spider veins with red-pinky freckles. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Tapestry: Height: 16-20 inches. Width: 7-9 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Fancy deep moss green heart-shaped leaves with crimson mid-veins with creamy to white freckles. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

White Christmas: Height: 14-16 inches. Width: 14-16 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Large fancy leaf with dark moss green mid-veins and margins with a white background. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

White Queen: Height: 18-24 inches. Width: 12-18 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Large fancy leaf white sporting green margins, red to pink mid-veins and green spider veins. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

White Wing: Height: 8-14 inches. Width: 10-12 inches. Light: Full sun to part shade. Color: Compact strap/lance leaf of creamy white with green margins touched with rose-red at the top of the leaves. Uses: Loves heat and humidity. Add a splash of the tropics to your garden. In baskets, borders, containers, and foliage interest in combination planters and baskets.

Listed below are a few websites that offer caladium bulbs for purchase.

CaladiumWorld

HappinessFarms

ClassicCaladiums

Photography and digital images are ©Cheryl Ann Meola 2020. All Rights Reserved. All photographs and digital images displayed in this article are for viewing purposes only and cannot be duplicated. ©Cheryl Ann Meola 2013. Texas Certified Nursery Professional #1282.