Caladium Mint Julep

Caladium 'Mint Julep' is a variety with pastel colours and medium contrast. It develops rounded, tender green leaves, marked with pink in the centre and veins of bright pink. The Caladium, prized in the 19th century for its exotic appearance, is experiencing a new popularity thanks to its large heart-shaped, colourful, eye-catching leaves that add a spectacular dimension to pots and seasonal flower beds. Caladiums are native to tropical America, prefer semi-shaded environments and are usually grown as annual plants or like begonias, with their tubers kept dry and cool over winter.

The genus Caladium belongs to the Araceae family and includes about 12 species native to Brazil and adjacent regions of Central and South America. Their common names are elephant ears, heart of Jesus, and angel wings because of the shape of their large leaves. In the wild, 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 hybrid Caladium 'Mint Julep' forms a clump of leaves measuring about 50 cm in all directions from spring. The leaves, which are approximately 25 cm long and 12 cm wide, have a characteristic elongated heart shape with a pointed tip. The flowers, when they occur, are quite insignificant in 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 can spend the winter in slightly moist potting compost, in the shade, in a cool room, maintained between 16 or 18 °C.

Caladium 'Mint Julep' enhances the elegance of semi-shaded flower beds throughout the summer season and undoubtedly adds a touch of exoticism to your garden. Its distinctive foliage enhances the beauty of neighbouring plants. It pairs perfectly with Japanese azaleas and dwarf rhododendrons at the base of hydrangeas. It also creates beautiful scenes with the foliage of hostas that thrive in woodland settings, punctuated by some single Impatiens flowers. Caladiums are ideal for creating beautiful pots to enhance terraces and verandas, superbly combining with the foliage of Coleus.