Caladiums ‘Chinook’ and ‘Highlighter’ blend together well.
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All of the Caladiums are up and growing. It took a while this year because of our crazy cool spring.
In fact, I still have a tray of C. ‘Moonlight’ on my deck, waiting for me to commit to where I’d most enjoy them this summer. There are only 10 left, and so many places I’ve considered planting them.
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C. ‘Moonlight,’ overwintered from last summer’s garden. These pure white leaves appreciate bright shade.
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Back in the day, one just assumed that Caladiums required a shady spot. With the new hybrids, many can take full sun. That means I am constantly checking back with the grower’s site to make sure I’m getting ‘right plant, right spot’ and not giving too much, or too little sun.
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Caladium ‘Burning Heart’ can take full sun, so long as you keep it hydrated. This pot is finally growing into its potential!
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I fantasized about this combo of C. ‘Highlighter’ and C. ‘Chinook‘ for better than a year; finally it is growing and looking great in the upper garden. C “Highlighter” seems to be out of production, which is a disappointment.
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Caladium ‘Highlighter’ with C. ‘Chinook’
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A little strange for some tastes, but it has become one of my favorites. I am forever grateful to the wonderful folks at Classic Caladiums for sending me a bag of beautiful C. ‘Highlighter’ with my order this year, even though it wasn’t a catalog listing. I was happy to be able to plant a few and also share a few with friends.
C. ‘Chinook’ looks much better in person than in the catalog photos, in my opinion. I’ve been happy with it and have mixed it with several other pink Caladiums in various pots. It is a strong grower and generous in producing new leaves.
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A mystery Caladium on the left. We have several growing, and I’ve no idea its name. But I like it! C. ‘Peppermint’ grows in the pot with it, on the right.
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There are lots of new and interesting Caladiums in our garden this year growing alongside old favorites. I try to find time to get around the garden to check on their progress at some point each day.
And every day, they just keep getting better.
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C. Fannie Munson with Dryopteris x australis
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Woodland Gnome 2018
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A quick and easy wildlife gardening tip:
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Fill a shallow saucer with a bit of sand and some pea gravel, place it in your garden, and keep it moist through the summer.
You’ve just created a place for butterflies, other insects, and small reptiles to find life-giving water on hot summer days.
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Forest Garden 
They are just potted florist plants here. They are purchased while at their best, and then decline through they year, and eventually get discarded by autumn. The air is too dry for them to be happy out in the open, although they can grow in protected spots out in the garden. However, even the mild climate, they do not often survive through winter. Those who know what they are doing dig them to keep them from rotting while dormant.
Such colorful caladiums. The red ones are lovely 🙂