Carol Cloud Bailey
Family
Araceae
Botanical Name
CALADIUM 'Blizzard'
Plant Common Name
Angel Wings, Blizzard Caladium
General Description
Caladiums are tuberous tropical perennials grown for their colorful leaves. The fancy-leaved hybrid 'Blizzard' (or 'Florida Blizzard') is a University of Florida introduction selected for its vigor and its uniquely marked leaves, which are veined and heavily splashed with silver-white. This cultivar resulted from a cross between 'Aaron' and 'White Christmas.'
Like most fancy-leaved caladiums, 'Blizzard' has large heart- or arrowhead-shaped leaves that scorch in hot sun (in contrast, strap-leaved hybrids have narrower, more sun-tolerant foliage). All caladiums thrive in warm, fertile, moist soil with good drainage. The roundish tubers rot in cool moist conditions. Plants go dormant in prolonged dry weather.
Caladiums are perfect for brightening shady areas and combining with blooming plants. Where hardy, use them as garden accents, or mass them as showy ground covers. In temperate zones tubers can be dug in fall and stored in a dry airy place until spring, or potted plants can be over-wintered indoors. Removing the tuber's central bud before planting results in leafier, denser growth.
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
12 - 4
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USDA Hardiness Zone
10 - 15
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Sunset Zone
H1, H2
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Plant Type
Bulb or Corm or Tuber
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Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial Shade, Full Shade
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Height
18"-38" / 45.7cm - 96.5cm
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Width
18"-24" / 45.7cm - 61.0cm
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Native To
Hybrid Origin
Growing Conditions
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Soil pH
Acidic
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Soil Drainage
Well Drained
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Soil type
Loam
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Growth Rate
Fast
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Water Requirements
Average Water
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Habit
Clump-Forming
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Seasonal Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall
Ornamental Features
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Flower Interest
None
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Flower Color
White, Green
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Foliage Color (Spring)
White, Green, Silver
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Foliage Color (Spring) Modifier
Spotted/Mottled
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Foliage Color (Summer)
White, Green, Silver
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Foliage Color (Summer) Modifier
Spotted/Mottled
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Foliage Color (Fall)
White, Green, Silver
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Foliage Color (Fall) Modifier
Spotted/Mottled
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Fragrant Flowers
No
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Fragrant Fruit
No
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Fragrant Foliage
No
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Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
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Repeat Bloomer
No
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Showy Fruit
No
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Edible Fruit
No
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Showy Foliage
Yes
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Foliage Texture
Coarse
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Foliage Sheen
Matte
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Evergreen
No
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Showy Bark
No
Special Characteristics
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Usage
Bedding Plant, Container, Groundcover, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
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Sharp or Has Thorns
No
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Invasive
No
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Self-Sowing
No