Ornatec InternationalSpecies reference sheet ยท ornatecinternational.com
Caladium bicolor
Fancy Leaved Caladium
Caladium bicolor is grown entirely for its leaves: large, arrow-shaped and almost translucent, marbled and veined in white, pink, red and green in combinations that differ from cultivar to cultivar. It grows from a tuber, runs hard through the warm months and then dies back completely and rests.
That seasonal rhythm is the point to understand before specifying it. Used well, it gives a shaded bed four or five months of colour that no evergreen ground cover can match, then hands the space back.
Specifications
- Height0.3 to 0.6 metres
- Width0.3 to 0.5 metres
- Native toTropical South America, centred on the Amazon basin
- FoliageLarge, thin, arrow-shaped leaves marbled and veined in white, pink, red and green; deciduous, dying back to a tuber in the cool or dry season
- Growth rateFast
Conditions
- SoilPrefers rich, free-draining soils high in organic matter; keep the tuber dry while dormant
- LightPartial shade; strong sun scorches the thin leaves
- WaterModerate to high while in leaf, then withhold water through dormancy
- ClimateThrives in warm, humid tropical and subtropical regions and in interior spaces; frost sensitive
Additional Features
- UsesIdeal for shaded mass planting, seasonal bedding, interior displays, atriums and containers
- SpacingPlant 0.2 to 0.3 metres apart for a closed mass in a single season
- Low MaintenanceLift or leave the tubers dry through dormancy; remove spent leaves as they yellow
- Pest ResistanceGenerally resilient; slugs and snails will graze new leaves in damp conditions
- Seasonal AppealColour from late spring through autumn, then a clean dormant period
- ToxicityAll parts contain calcium oxalate and are irritant if chewed
- VersatilityWorks as seasonal bedding, in planters or as a short-term interior display
The Fancy Leaved Caladium is the strongest foliage colour available for shade, on the understanding that it is a seasonal plant.
Availability by project review. Sizes, quantities, origin and export readiness are confirmed after your plant schedule is reviewed against destination, timing and quarantine requirements. MEWA certified for supply into Saudi Arabia; Australian Export Registered Establishment.
Enquiries: sales@ornatecinternational.com
310 Donkin Rd, Utchee Creek QLD 4871, Australia
Prepared 09 September 2026