Plant Care Library

Other Names:  Elephant Ears, Lance Leaf, Strap Leaf

Description:

This stunning variety produces red leaves with red veins, framed by green edges; a short, compact habit with ruffled leaves; great for containers, hanging baskets, or as a garden accent; perfect for shade or sun

Ornamental Features

Florida Red Ruffles Caladium's attractive twisted heart-shaped leaves remain red in color with distinctive green edges throughout the season on a plant with a mounded habit of growth.

Landscape Attributes

Florida Red Ruffles Caladium is a dense herbaceous annual with a mounded form. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other garden plants with finer foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Florida Red Ruffles Caladium is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting
• Hanging Baskets

Planting & Growing

Florida Red Ruffles Caladium will grow to be about 18 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 16 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 12 inches apart. This annual will normally live for one full growing season, needing replacement the following year.

This plant performs well in both full sun and full shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid. It can be propagated by multiplication of the underground bulbs; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Florida Red Ruffles Caladium is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor containers and hanging baskets. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a canvas of foliage against which the thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.