Complementing Caladiums: 15 Winning Companion Plants for Pots

With their outrageously colorful artistically shaped leaves caladiums are the divas of the shade garden. These tropical beauties look fantastic on their own but really shine when paired with complementary companion plants. The key is choosing partners that enhance the caladiums’ dramatic foliar display rather than compete with it.

When planning container plantings consider companion plants that

• Have contrasting textures like ruffled, trailing, or fine and lacy leaves
• Provide harmonizing or contrasting colors that make the caladiums pop
• Share similar light and watering needs
• Help control pests like aphids or fungus gnats
• Bloom at different times to extend the show

Here are 15 of my favorite companion plants for combining with caladiums in patio pots and hanging baskets

Trailing Plants

Plants that trail over the edges of containers complement the broad upright leaves of caladiums. Try:

• Lysimachia (creeping jenny) – Chartreuse trailing foliage
• Scaevola (fan flower) – Light blue trailing flowers
• Bacopa – White trailing flowers
• Fuchsia – Pendant pink or purple flowers

Fine-Textured Plants

Delicate foliage creates nice contrast to caladium’s bold leaves. Options include:

• Asparagus fern – Lacy green foliage
• Artemisia ‘Silver Brocade’ – Finely cut gray leaves
• Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’ – Cascading silver leaves
• Sweet potato vine – Chartreuse trailing vines

Large-Leaved Plants

Partner with plants that match the drama of caladium foliage like:

• Colocasia (elephant ear) – Immense green or black leaves
• Alocasia – Upright pleated leaves
• Banana – Large lush tropical leaves
• Cannas – Large tropical looking leaves

Spiky Plants

Spiky or upright foliage balances caladium’s shields and spears. Try:

• Cordyline ‘Red Star’ – Red grass-like color
• Crocosmia – Sword-like pleated leaves
• Iris domestica – Blackberry lily with slender leaves
• Liatris spicata – Grass-like purple foliage

Colorful Foliage

Caladium leaves come in an incredible range of colors and patterns. Complement them with:

• Coleus – Colorful kaleidoscopic foliage
• Alternanthera – Purple, pink, or red leaves
• Heuchera – Ruffled leaves in shades of lime, red and purple
• Setcreasea pallida – Purple trailing foliage

Mounding Foliage

Mounding plants help fill in empty spots and add fullness. Options include:

• Begonias – Green, red or bronzed leaves
• Impatiens – Colorful flowers and foliage
• Torenia – Mounding purple flowers
• Calibrachoa – Mounding petunia-like flowers

Vining Foliage

Vining plants dress up the container’s vertical space. Consider:

• Ivy – Cascading green leaves
• Jasmine – Fragrant vining foliage
• Thunbergia – Black-eyed Susan vine
• Mandevilla – Pink or red trumpet flowers

Flowering Plants

Although caladiums take center stage with their vivid leaves, flowers add pops of color. Try:

• Pentas – Star-shaped flowers in bright colors
• Verbena – Clusters of tiny flowers
• Scaevola – Fan-shaped blue flowers
• Lantana – Multicolored clusters of flowers

Fragrant Plants

Scents complement caladium’s visual appeal. Options include:

• Gardenia – Classic white blooms
• Jasmine – Sweet vining flowers
• Angel wing jasmine – Fragrant white blooms
• Nicotiana – Night-fragrant tobacco plant

Silver-Leafed Plants

Sparkling silver leaves illuminate shady caladiums. Consider:

• Dusty miller – Silver lacy leaves
• Persian shield – Iridescent purple-silver leaves
• Silver falls dichondra – Shimmering silver foliage

Chartreuse Foliage

The electrifying color of chartreuse makes caladium colors pop. Try:

• Golden creeping Jenny – Chartreuse trailing foliage
• Licorice plant – Lime green trailing foliage
• Sweet potato vine – Chartreuse leaves
• Caladium ‘Lime Zinger’ – Vibrant chartreuse leaves

With so many options for fabulous foliage and flower combinations, the creative possibilities are endless. Use these companion plants to highlight caladiums as the superstars of your container gardens. Their exotic tropical colors and shapes will be shown to full advantage alongside these special supporting players.

Now that you have plenty of ideas for caladium container companions, it’s time to start planting. Here are some tips to help your combinations thrive:

• Select a container at least 10-12 inches wide and deep. Caladiums have large root systems.

• Use a well-draining potting mix made for containers, not garden soil.

• Plant caladium tubers 2-3 inches deep and 8-12 inches apart. Plant companions in between.

• Site the pot in part sun to full shade. Caladiums prefer 4-6 hours of sun, especially in cooler climates.

• Keep soil consistently moist but not saturated. Caladiums dislike dry soil.

• Apply a balanced water-soluble fertilizer every 2-3 weeks during the growing season.

• Watch for slugs, snails, and other pests. Hand pick or use organic remedies as needed.

• In colder climates, dig up the tubers in fall and store them dormant over winter.

With the right companion plants and care, container caladium combinations will beautify shady patios, entryways, and other spots all season long. The artistic foliage and multi-colored leaves will create stunning displays worth stopping to admire.