Companion Plants for Caladiums

• Plant caladiums in early May, once the soil is warm. Jupiterimages/liquidlibrary/Getty Images

  Caladium is a genus of flowering plants in the Aracea family, also known as Elephant ear, Heart of Jesus or Angels wings. Common foliage colors include green, salmon, pink and white, with heart-, arrow- or triangle-shaped leaves. Companion plants must have similar growing preferences. Look for plants that do well in full to partial shade and in moist, well-drained soil.

Shady Plants

• Ferns have green and simple foliage, creating a colorful contrast against caladium's brightly colored leaves. Hellebores, flowering perennial plants, often bloom first in the spring and do best in shaded, moist and fairly undisturbed areas with well-drained soil. The polka dot plant is another shady garden plant that works well as a companion plant for caladiums. Originally known for its bright pink spots, the polka dot plant now features bright red, silver or white blushes, or polka dots.

Hostas

• Hostas are herbaceous perennials, and they exist in a wide range of sizes, shapes, colors and textures. Hostas grow best with sunny mornings and shady afternoons. Growing requirements vary depending on the cultivar. Hosta leaf colors include solid green, yellow or a wax-coated green that appears blue, or they may be variegated. Generally, "blue" hostas require shade while other hostas varieties are more tolerant of heat.

Caladiums

• Different kinds of caladiums act as appropriate companion plants for each other, growing together to create a multicolored effect. Simply mix and match different blooms. White queen has bright white leaves and red veins, and white Christmas produces white leaves and dark green veins. Both are ideal for bright and sunny areas. For a mostly shady garden, consider the sweetheart caladium variety. Its has mostly pinkish red leaves with green edging. The rosebud has a pink center surrounded by white and edged with green, ideal for a tricolor variety. Or choose Jackie Suthers, a smaller caladium variety with white-centered leaves surrounded by a dark green hue. Include other shade-loving plants with the caladium for more color and texture.