Collection: Caladium & Elephant Ear Bulbs

The best caladium and elephant ear bulbs to enhance your landscape

Add some texture and interest to your garden with caladium and elephant ear bulbs! While we love flowers, you don’t have to plant only flowers in your garden. Elephant ear and caladium bulbs are perfect landscaping plants, creating visually appealing borders and filling out shady areas of the garden. The large leaves create the perfect habitat for beneficial insects, and the colorful, variegated foliage is very attractive against a wall or fence.

Elephant ear and caladium bulbs are perfect for containers and indoor gardens

Both caladium and elephant ear bulbs are tropical ornamentals grown for their colorful foliage. Caladiums are smaller than elephant ears, making the plants an excellent choice for a houseplant. Elephant ears are more commonly grown outside, as these plants are significantly larger—some of the bigger varieties average between six and eight feet in height!

Elephant ear and caladium bulbs are ideal for container gardens. Plant Caladium Fancy Leaf bulbs in terracotta planters for a stunning patio centerpiece. Pair Elephant Ear Mojito Jumbo bulbs with Elephant Ear Bulbs Black Coral in a concrete planter for an attractive and refined living arrangement.

Caladium and elephant ear bulbs are easy to grow

While the tropical plants require warm temperatures to thrive, elephant ear and caladium bulbs prefer partial shade and filtered sunlight. When planting these tender perennials, choose a well-draining site that offers some protection from the harsh afternoon sun. Some varieties, like Caladium Sun- Tolerant bulbs, are somewhat better able to tolerate fun sun if given adequate water. Mulch the base of your caladium and elephant bulbs to conserve moisture and keep the plants cool.

Plant elephant ear and caladium bulbs outside after all danger of frost has passed. If you have the space, you can also start the bulbs indoors six weeks before your last average first date to get a jumpstart on the season. Caladium and elephant eat bulbs may take anywhere between one and three weeks to sprout, depending on soil temperatures—65° is the sweet spot.

Dig up and divide elephant ear and caladium bulbs for more plants

These tropical plants are cold-sensitive, so dig up your caladium and elephant ear bulbs before frost. Store the bulbs through the winter in a cool, dark place where temperatures don’t drop below freezing. Elephant ear and caladium bulbs can be left to overwinter in warmer climates like those found in hardiness zones 8 and above.

Caladium and elephant ear bulbs multiply, and spring is the perfect time to divide them. To propagate elephant ears, separate any young “pups” from their parent using sanitized and sharpened pruners. To propagate caladium bulbs, cut the tubers into three-inch pieces, making sure each piece has an eye, or sprout. For more planting information and to learn how to care for elephant ears and caladiums, visit our Gardening 101 resource center.

Elephant ear and caladium bulbs are such a fun addition to the garden! Turn your yard or patio into an island paradise with these tropical ornamentals. Order your caladium and elephant ear bulbs today and we’ll ship your bulbs to you when it’s time to plant. Get ready for the best summer garden staycation you’ve had yet!