caladium

noun

ca·​la·​di·​um kə-ˈlā-dē-əm How to pronounce caladium (audio)
: any of a genus (Caladium and especially C. bicolor) of tropical American plants of the arum family widely cultivated for their showy variably colored leaves

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Plant a caladium in its own container or within the landscape. Lauren Smith Mcdonough, House Beautiful, 18 Apr. 2023 Pair it with impatiens in a shady spot, but take note: Keep caladium away from pets, especially those who like to chew on plants. Terri Robertson, Country Living, 1 Aug. 2022 My caladium bulbs have been stored in peat moss since fall. Tom Maccubbin, orlandosentinel.com, 12 Feb. 2022 The ground is finally warm enough to plant caladium bulbs, for example. Howard Garrett, Dallas News, 31 May 2021 At once vibrant and somber, her compositions celebrate uncommon forms and colors, and brim with striking varieties such as red flowering gum, green-and-pink caladium leaves and Sturt’s desert pea, with its red-and-black podlike flowers. New York Times, 4 May 2021 First, your caladium tubers must be big, fat and healthy to make it through storage. Dan Gill, NOLA.com, 28 Oct. 2020 Some varieties of pansies, marigold, petunia and caladium flowers can also be planted for a fall or winter garden in Florida. Patrick Connolly, orlandosentinel.com, 24 Sep. 2020 Wax leaf begonias, pentas, caladium and coleus perform well in the shade. Calvin Finch, ExpressNews.com, 25 June 2020 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'caladium.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, genus name, from Malay kěladi, an aroid plant

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of caladium was in 1801

Dictionary Entries Near caladium

Cite this Entry

“Caladium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caladium. Accessed 3 Jun. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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