Caladium foliage brightens gardens

There’s something magical about a shaded garden that is still filled with color this time of year.

When I recently visited my friend, Maurice Hennis, at Twin Oaks Cottage in Laurel, one of the first things I noticed in his garden was his incredible display of caladiums. These beautiful foliage plants prove that you don’t need flowers to create a spectacular landscape.

Caladiums’ large, heart-shaped leaves with intricate patterns of white, green, pink and striking shades of red brighten shady areas. Some leaves are delicately splashed with color, while others have bold veins and dramatic patterns that look as if an artist painted them by hand.

The effect is especially beautiful when sunlight filters through the trees above.

Instead of harsh, direct sunlight, the caladiums in Maurice’s garden receive soft, dappled light that highlights the colors and patterns of their foliage. The result is a garden that feels tropical, with layers of color and texture tucked into the coolness of the shade.

What really caught my attention at Twin Oaks Cottage is the way Maurice incorporated caladiums throughout the landscape. Rather than confining them to a single flower bed or isolated area, they appear in unexpected places.

You’ll find caladiums nestled beneath trees, growing alongside ferns, tucked around garden features and spilling from containers. As you move through the garden, your eye keeps discovering another splash of color. This creates colorful connections throughout the garden.

One of the things I love about caladiums is the way their bold foliage adds color to the landscape. They are particularly useful in shady and filtered-light areas where many flowering plants do not perform their best.

Caladiums also give us wonderful opportunities to combine color and texture.

In his landscape, Maurice has planted them around a traditional garden lamp along with ferns, creating a beautiful focal point.

The lamp provides structure and height, while the caladiums provide bold shapes and vivid color. The finely textured fern fronds create a soft, feathery backdrop. Together, they create a much more interesting planting than either one would provide alone.

And don’t overlook containers.

Caladiums are excellent choices for adding a splash of color to patios, porches, entryways and anywhere you want to create a focal point. A container filled with colorful caladiums can brighten an otherwise quiet corner. Because containers can be moved, you can easily reposition them as your landscape changes throughout the season.

Caladiums prefer warm temperatures and rich, well-drained soil. They perform best in partial to full shade, although some newer selections can tolerate more sunlight, particularly when they receive adequate moisture.

Consistent moisture is important for keeping caladium foliage lush and attractive during the heat of summer.

I recommend monitoring plants closely during periods of extreme heat to make sure containers and other areas that dry out quickly receive adequate water. But avoid keeping the soil constantly soggy. Good drainage is just as important as adequate moisture.

Caladiums don’t have to produce a single flower to command attention. That’s an important lesson for all gardeners. When we think of adding color to a landscape, we often think first about flowers. But sometimes, the most spectacular color comes from the leaves.

If you have a shady area in your landscape, give caladiums a try. Their colorful foliage may be just what you need to turn a quiet spot into one of the most beautiful areas in your garden.