Caladium Lucia - Elephant ear

Caladium 'Lucia' is a popular houseplant prized for its highly colourful foliage. It grows from a bulb that goes dormant in winter before resuming growth the following spring. 'Lucia' features undulate, heart-shaped leaves that are highly variable, most often rosy-red veined with green and some white. The leaves can also be predominantly green, pink, red, or white. The Caladium, cherished in the 19th century for its exotic appearance, is enjoying renewed popularity today. It requires high ambient humidity and warmth, with a minimum of 20°C, as well as good light but no direct sunlight.

Caladium 'Lucia' is derived from Caladium bicolor, also known as Arum bicolor or Caladium x hortulanum. The Caladium genus belongs to the Araceae family and includes around 15 species native to Brazil and adjacent regions of Central and South America. Commonly, they are called elephant ears, heart of Jesus, or angel wings due to the shape of their large leaves. In the wild, these tuberous plants grow in clearings and along riverbanks. They are active during the rainy season but enter dormancy to survive the dry season. Note that all parts of the plant are toxic to humans. There are over 1000 Caladium varieties.
The hybrid Caladium 'Lucia' forms a clump of leaves from spring onwards, reaching about 60 to 75 cm in all directions. The leaves, measuring approximately 25 cm long and 12 cm wide, have a characteristic elongated, notched heart shape with a tapered tip. Flowering is unlikely indoors and rather insignificant; it's advisable to remove it to avoid exhausting the plant. The inflorescence consists of a yellowish spathe surrounding a column called a spadix, typical of plants in the arum family. In early autumn, reduce watering. The foliage dries up, signalling the plant's entry into dormancy. This is the time to dig up the tubers, which will overwinter in barely moist turf or a jute sack, kept in a cool, shaded room at 16-18°C. Alternatively, leave the bulbs in the pot, stop watering, and place the pot in a cool, dark room. In spring, bring the pot back into the light or replant the bulbs, maintain temperatures at 20°C or above, resume watering, or place the pot in a small indoor greenhouse.

Caladium 'Lucia' is perfect for adding a splash of colour and exotic flair to living rooms, bedrooms, or even offices. Position it in a bright spot, filtering direct sunlight if necessary. Misted with non-calcareous water or placed near a humidifier, it will thrive! Given the right conditions, it will reward you with spectacular foliage from spring through autumn. Play with heights: place your potted Caladiums slightly elevated and surround them with lower or trailing plants like Syngonium 'Golden Allusion'.