Caladium Aaron - Angel Wings

The Caladium 'Aaron' is an old variety that is still highly appreciated for its beautiful pearly white foliage edged with dark green. A tuberous plant that was once highly sought after to bring an exotic touch to elegant interiors, it is making a comeback in pots, as well as in ephemeral flower beds where its large, heart-shaped leaves with remarkable colours always make a big impression. Native to tropical America, Caladiums are tender shade plants that are grown as annuals in the garden, or like begonias, their tubers are stored dry and cool in winter.

The genus Caladium belongs to the family of Araceae and includes about 12 species native to Brazil and adjacent regions of Central and South America. In everyday language, they are called elephant ears, heart of Jesus, and angel wings because of the shape of their large leaves. In nature, 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 Caladium hybrid 'Aaron' forms a clump of leaves measuring about 45-50cm (18-20in) in all directions starting in spring. The leaves, about 40cm (16in) long and 25cm (10in) wide, have a characteristic lobed heart shape with a pointed tip. The main veins are bright white, and the entire central area of the lamina is pearly white, widely bordered with dark green. 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 dries up, 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 turf, in the shade, in a cool room maintained between 16 or 18 °C (60.8 or 64.4°F).

The Caladium 'Aaron' will bring an elegant and exotic touch to semi-shaded flower beds throughout the growing season, and its particularly bright foliage will enhance all neighbouring plants. Place it, for example, at the base of hydrangeas, Japanese azaleas, or dwarf rhododendrons, or create a beautiful scene with Impatiens, hostas, and lobelias that appreciate the same woodland atmosphere.