Elephant's ear (Caladium 'Burning Heart')

Overview

Caladium ‘Burning Heart’ is a highly sought-after tropical foliage plant prized for its vibrant, upright coloration. This Elephant’s ear cultivar offers dramatic bronzy-red, heart-shaped leaves liberally peppered with glistening pink flecks, instantly transforming shaded areas into vibrant focal points. As a tuberous perennial, it delivers consistent, showy color throughout the warm season, making it invaluable for summer bedding or patio containers.

The vigorous nature of Caladium ‘Burning Heart’ suggests it thrives in conditions mimicking its native stream bank habitats: warm, humid, and rich in organic matter. While it requires consistent moisture to sustain those large, colorful leaves, gardeners must balance this need with excellent soil drainage to protect the tubers. Understanding regional climate requirements, particularly regarding frost, is key to successfully growing the spectacular foliage of Caladium ‘Burning Heart’.

This particular selection, noted for its sturdy, somewhat erect growth habit, ensures excellent garden impact wherever it is placed. Whether massed in a protected border or showcased solo in a patio pot, Caladium ‘Burning Heart’ brings accessible, low-maintenance drama to partial shade settings.

Fast Facts

• Plant Family: Araceae
• Plant Type: Bulb
• Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 8-10
• Size at Maturity:
  • Height: 1-1.5 ft
  • Spread: 1-1.5 ft
• Bloom Time: Rarely flowers
• Bloom Description: White spathe and white spadix
• Sun Exposure: Part shade
• Water Needs: Medium
• Maintenance Level: Medium

How to Grow

For the best performance, cultivate Caladium ‘Burning Heart’ in soils that are moist, fertile, humusy, organically rich, and slightly acidic. While they appreciate part shade or filtered sun, direct, hot sunlight must be avoided as it scorches the delicate foliage of the Elephant’s ear. In consistently warm regions (USDA Zones 8 through 10), the tubers can remain happily planted year-round.

Gardeners outside these zones, or those wanting an earlier start, must treat the tubers as annuals or overwinter them. Start tubers indoors in early spring and transplant them outside only after all danger of frost has passed. Pay close attention to moisture levels; while these plants require regular watering, especially during dry summer periods, ensure the soil never becomes truly waterlogged.

Regular feeding is beneficial for supporting robust leaf production. Water container plants frequently, as pots dry out faster than garden beds. If you must dig up the tubers in the fall in colder climates, do so immediately after the first frost causes the foliage to die back. Store the tubers like tuberous begonias—in a dry location where temperatures do not drop below 45°F, packed in dry peat or wood shavings.

Landscape Uses

Caladium ‘Burning Heart’ excels at providing instant, saturated color where overhead tree canopy limits direct sunlight exposure. Its manageable size, reaching up to 1.5 feet tall and wide, makes it ideal for filling out the middle layer of shaded beds or defining the edges of woodland paths. The striking bronzy-red hue contrasts beautifully against dark green hostas or silvery foliage plants.

These tubers are frequently used to brighten foundation plantings where summer sun is scarce, lending a distinct tropical aesthetic without requiring high maintenance. Furthermore, the Elephant’s ear thrives wonderfully in containers, allowing you to move the vibrant color to different spots on a patio or deck as the season progresses. For a cohesive design, pair this cultivar with shade-loving annuals like impatiens or ferns.

Standout Features

Noteworthy Characteristics

Caladium is a genus of around 14 species native to Central America and northern South America, typically found near stream banks and in forest openings. ‘Burning Heart’ is a specific hybrid renowned for its vigorous growth and the intense bronzy-red color of its heart-shaped leaves. This plant exhibits a robust, upright habit, ensuring its colorful foliage remains the star attraction throughout the growing season.

Tolerances

• Leaves are rather fragile and may easily be damaged by wind or hail.

Potential Problems

Slugs and snails pose a significant threat to the foliage of Caladium ‘Burning Heart’. These common garden pests chew unsightly holes in the large leaves, marring the otherwise perfect appearance of your Elephant’s ear display. Inspect the undersides of leaves and the soil surface regularly, especially after damp weather. Management options include using slug and snail baits, copper tape barriers around containers, or setting shallow traps filled with beer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zones is Elephant’s ear suitable for?

This specific Elephant’s ear cultivar, Caladium ‘Burning Heart’, is suitable for USDA Zones 8 through 10, where tubers can potentially remain in the ground year-round.

How large does Caladium ‘Burning Heart’ grow?

Mature clumps of Caladium ‘Burning Heart’ typically reach a height between 1 and 1.5 feet, with an equal spread of 1 to 1.5 feet, boasting large, showy leaves.

When does Elephant’s ear bloom?

Caladium ‘Burning Heart’ rarely flowers; when blooms do appear, they consist of a typical white spathe surrounding a simple white spadix.

What sun exposure does Caladium ‘Burning Heart’ need?

It prefers part shade or bright, filtered sun. Direct exposure to harsh afternoon sun should be avoided as it risks scorching the foliage.

Conclusion

Caladium ‘Burning Heart’ delivers unparalleled tropical impact with its bold, distinctly colored foliage, making it a must-grow for shaded garden spaces. To ensure success with this dramatic Elephant’s ear, confirm your local hardiness zone or prepare for careful overwintering of the tubers. Plan your planting time for early spring after the last frost to enjoy the full glory of Caladium ‘Burning Heart’ all summer long.

Companion Planting for Shaded Gardens

When designing a display around Caladium ‘Burning Heart’, focus on plants that share its need for consistent moisture and partial shade while offering textural contrast. Dark green foliage provides an excellent backdrop that makes the red and pink tones of the Elephant’s ear pop. Consider using ferns, such as Japanese Painted Ferns, for their lacy texture, or Heuchera (Coral Bells) varieties with deep burgundy or chartreuse leaves.

For edging or groundcover beneath taller specimens of Caladium ‘Burning Heart’, low-growing Vinca minor or mosses can help maintain consistent soil moisture and suppress weeds. Avoid plants that require full, hot sun, as the cultural needs will diverge too greatly, leading to stress for one or both species.

Harvesting and Overwintering Tubers

Successfully growing Caladium ‘Burning Heart’ year after year in cooler climates depends entirely on proper tuber preparation before winter. Wait until the first light frost causes the leaves to blacken or collapse entirely; this signals the plant is pulling energy back into the tuber. Dig the tubers carefully in the fall immediately after the foliage dies back.

Once lifted, allow the tubers to dry slightly in a protected area, gently removing as much soil as possible without rubbing off the fragile skin. Store the Caladium ‘Burning Heart’ tubers in containers filled with dry peat moss or wood shavings. The storage area must be cool (not below 45°F) and dry, mimicking dormant conditions essential for their survival until spring planting resumes.