Heart of Jesus
Caladium bicolor
Also listed as Caladium hortulanum, Cyrtospadix bicolor
Also known as Fancy-leaf Caladium, Angel Wings, Artist's Pallet
Climate Match for your location
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Heart of Jesus is a tropical foliage plant prized for its striking arrow-shaped leaves featuring bold red or pink coloring with green margins. Grown primarily for its ornamental foliage rather than flowers, it adds vibrant color to shaded indoor or outdoor spaces.
Why grow it
Caladium bicolor offers reliable foliage color in low-light conditions where many ornamentals struggle, making it useful for shaded understory plantings or indoor spaces. Compared to similar tropical foliage plants like Anthurium or Philodendron, caladiums produce larger, more dramatically patterned leaves with minimal maintenance once established. The range of color morphs (red, pink, white, and bicolor varieties) allows for design flexibility in a small footprint.
Watch out for
Caladiums require consistently warm temperatures (65-75°F minimum) and lose vigor or go dormant if exposed to prolonged cold; outdoor cultivation is practical only in warm zones. They prefer high humidity and evenly moist (not waterlogged) soil, which can be challenging to maintain indoors without attention to watering frequency and air moisture. The bulbs are sensitive to root rot in poorly draining media and benefit from a dormant period of reduced watering in winter months.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Araceae
Native Range
South America
Seasonality
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Heart of Jesus is a tropical foliage plant prized for its striking arrow-shaped leaves featuring bold red or pink coloring with green margins. Grown primarily for its ornamental foliage rather than flowers, it adds vibrant color to shaded indoor or outdoor spaces.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Heart of Jesus grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Caladium bicolor offers reliable foliage color in low-light conditions where many ornamentals struggle, making it useful for shaded understory plantings or indoor spaces. Compared to similar tropical foliage plants like Anthurium or Philodendron, caladiums produce larger, more dramatically patterned leaves with minimal maintenance once established. The range of color morphs (red, pink, white, and bicolor varieties) allows for design flexibility in a small footprint.
Watch out for
Caladiums require consistently warm temperatures (65-75°F minimum) and lose vigor or go dormant if exposed to prolonged cold; outdoor cultivation is practical only in warm zones. They prefer high humidity and evenly moist (not waterlogged) soil, which can be challenging to maintain indoors without attention to watering frequency and air moisture. The bulbs are sensitive to root rot in poorly draining media and benefit from a dormant period of reduced watering in winter months.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Araceae
Native Range
South America
Seasonality
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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