Caladium selected as Lewes in Bloom Flower of the Year
Lewes in Bloom has chosen the caladium as its 2024 Flower of the Year.
Caladiums are grown for their heart-shaped leaves that display vibrant color combinations of white, pink and green. They are ideal to brighten shady areas of a garden. The foliage of the plants provides a colorful show whether planted in shade, partial shade or full sun, which some varieties prefer. Also, caladiums are readily available at most nurseries, and a special plus is that they are disease- and insect-free flowers.
This year, Lewes in Bloom is planting more than 1,300 caladiums consisting of 15 different varieties. Warren Golde, president emeritus of Lewes in Bloom, said among the reasons the caladium was chosen as 2024 Flower of the Year were the many favorable comments from those who viewed the gardens the group tends.
Caladiums need warm nights and a soil temperature of at least 65 degrees to grow, so they are not at their best until early July in the Cape Region. Some of the favorite varieties volunteers have planted include white queen and candidum [white]; seafoam pink and rosebud [pink], and red flash [red]. Volunteers will be planting cool-loving flowers such as diascia and myosotis between the caladium bulbs to provide early color in the gardens.
