Caladiums are a tropical, leafy addition to ornamental gardens even in non-tropical areas, but are caladiums perennials? Known by the common names angel wings and elephant ears, we plant these pops of color as annuals because most of us in North America, the UK, and Europe see frosts and freezing temperatures; however, in caladium’s native frost-free Central America and South America, this plant is grown as a perennial. In this article, I’ll provide some of the reasoning behind the “are caladiums perennials” question, look at the best places to grow caladiums, explain how you can save and replant your caladiums year after year, and offer a few other caladium-growing tips.

What are caladiums? 

Caladium bicolor‘s dramatic foliage is a common sight in pots and in gardens. You’ll recognize the mottled and striped patterns and the veins—in shades of green, white, pinks, and red—across caladium’s heart-shaped leaves with contrasting margins and colored midribs. What you may think are stems are actually just the leaf stalk, or petiole. The leaves emerge directly from the tuber underground.

There are thousands of caladium cultivars! Common varieties among American gardeners include Carolyn Whorton, Candidum, Red Flash, Aaron, White Queen, and Florida Sweetheart.

Are caladiums perennials? 

Back to the question at hand, are caladiums perennials, the answer is yes, but how you maintain them makes a difference. These tender perennials are killed by frost and struggle in cool, damp soils. Gardeners in USDA Zones 9 and warmer (including South Florida and Southern California, as well as Hawaii) can allow their caladium tubers to overwinter outdoors. The rest of us have to be more creative about how we handle these plants from season to season. 

How to save caladiums for next season 

To keep your caladium tubers productive into the following year, you can bring them indoors for the winter. If you’re growing your caladiums in containers on the deck, rather than in the ground, you can simply bring your caladium plants indoors before your first frost. Once inside, leave them in the pot in an area that remains 55 degrees F (13 degrees C) or warmer, and stop watering them. They’ll naturally wither over the winter. When new growth appears in the spring, start watering again to encourage their growth for the season.

Digging up caladium bulbs

If you’re growing caladiums in the garden in northern areas, dig up the tuberous corm while the leaves still have some color, before cold weather sets in. When soil temperatures drop below 55 degrees F (13 degrees C), the bulb may rot in the ground or become damaged and not overwinter as well. 

Digging up bulbs is straightforward. Use a shovel or trowel to loosen the soil around the tubers, and lift the tubers from the ground. Be careful to not gouge these bulbs in the process. Digging up the bulbs helps you to learn something about your plants, too. You may notice that the tubers have grown to different sizes. Small tubers produce fewer leaves, while large tubers have more abundant foliage displays.

Storing the bulbs properly

Once the tubers are out of the ground, you’ll dry them before keeping them for the winter. Spread out the tubers on a sheet in a warm room for a week to 10 days. You want to dry the surface but not shrivel the tuber. 

After the drying period, cut off any remaining leaves. Layer the tubers in a cardboard box with vermiculite or sawdust, not allowing the tubers to touch one another. You’re controlling moisture here. Keep the box in a place that remains around 60 degrees F (15 degrees C) and doesn’t get colder than 50 degrees F (10 degrees C). A basement or a closet may be the right place in your home. If the tubers experience temperatures less than 45 degrees F (7 degrees C), you may see a month-long delay in sprouting in the spring.

How to replant caladium bulbs in the spring 

Patience is key to getting your overwintered caladium bulbs off to a good start. Rushing this process, planting before soil temperatures are warm enough, makes our “are caladiums perennials” question moot. The bulbs will not grow and thrive in cold soils. 

Start out by potting up the caladium tubers. In a bright room that’s 70 degrees F (21 degrees C) or warmer, plant the bulbs with the eyes up, covering them with a thin layer of soil. After the last frost, plant caladium bulbs 1 1/2 to 2 inches deep in your garden or a container outdoors.

Replanting time is your chance to propagate your caladiums, too. Using a sharp knife, cut the tubers into pieces with at least one eye each. Let them callous over for a few days, as you would potatoes, an then continue with planting (or sharing with friends).

Where to grow caladiums 

One of the characteristics that makes caladiums so popular is that they’re a cheery option for full-shade gardens, which are hard to find. While some caladium cultivars tolerate partial shade, avoid planting them in full sun or places with too much direct sunlight. Choose a place with well-draining soil. Amend it with compost to increase the organic matter. 

Caladium plants also make great additions to shaded patios. Select a container that has drainage holes, and fill it with a high-quality potting mix.

Are caladiums perennials? Additional tips for success 

In understanding that the answer to, “are caladiums perennials,” depends on your management of the plants, there are a few more things you should know to increase the odds they’ll overwinter well.

• Cultivars with white foliage may store better and produce more showy second-year foliage than other cultivars.
• Save only disease-free tubers from year-to-year. Healthy bulbs have the best chance of making it through the winter in good condition.
• Insect pests are relatively rare among caladiums, even when the plants are kept indoors. You won’t find mites, aphids, and thrips invading your space the way you might with other potted plants.
• Caladiums are not edible and are, in fact, toxic. You may have a sensitivity to handling the plants and the tubers. Wear long sleeves and gloves to avoid issues.

Whether added to a shade garden for a hint of tropical color or tucked into a container for some bold foliage on the doorstep, caladiums’ heart-shaped leaves are definitely part of the American ornamental garden. We’ve brought them out of their tropical climates, but you have the option of continuing to treat them as perennials. 

When you bring in your caladium pots to overwinter indoors or gently dig caladium tubers from their places in the garden, you’re letting the plants live out their full potential and saving money on new plants in the process. 

So, are caladiums perennials? Yes, but when you garden in a not-so-tropical hardiness zone, it’s up to you to keep them that way.

Now that we’ve answered the question of ‘Are caladiums perennials?’, here’s more information on growing and storing bulbs:

• How to overwinter dahlia tubers
• A guide to growing elephant ears in pots
• Overwintering hibiscus: Tips for success