Caladium Strawberry Star

Caladium 'Strawberry Star' is a variety with delicate and very elegant foliage. The almost transparent leaves are pale green, bordered and finely veined with dark green. Some strawberry red spots dot the lamina. The Caladium, prized in the 19th century for its exotic appearance, is experiencing a new popularity thanks to its large heart-shaped, colourful and eye-catching leaves that add a spectacular dimension to pots and beds of seasonal flowers. Caladiums are native to tropical America, prefer semi-shade and are generally grown as annual plants or like begonias, with their tubers kept dry and cool during winter.

The Caladium genus belongs to the Araceae family and includes about 12 species native to Brazil and adjacent regions of Central and South America. They are commonly called elephant ears, heart of Jesus, and angel wings because of the shape of their large leaves. In the wild, these tuberous plants grow in clearings and on riverbanks. They are in vegetation during the rainy season but go dormant to escape the dry season. Note that all parts of the plant are toxic to humans.

The hybrid Caladium 'Strawberry Star' forms from spring a clump of leaves measuring about 50 cm in all directions. The leaves measure approximately 35 cm long and 20 cm wide and have a characteristic elongated and notched heart shape with a tapered tip. When it occurs, the flowering is quite insignificant. It takes the form of a yellowish spathe or cone surrounding a column called a spadix, characteristic of plants in the arum family. In early autumn, watering should be reduced. The foliage then dries, a sign that the plant is going into dormancy. This is the time to dig up the tubers which will spend the winter in slightly moist compost, in the dark, in a cool room, maintained between 16 or 18 °C.

Caladium 'Strawberry Star' enhances semi-shaded beds with its elegance throughout the summer season and brings a touch of exoticism to your garden. Its distinctive foliage enhances the beauty of neighbouring plants. It pairs perfectly with Japanese azaleas and dwarf rhododendrons at the base of hydrangeas. It also creates beautiful compositions with the foliage of hostas thriving in woodland settings, punctuated by some single Impatiens flowers. Caladiums are ideal for creating beautiful pots to enhance terraces and verandas, superbly combining with the foliage of Coleus.