Caladium
Caladium hortulanum (Araceae)
Also called Malanga, Elephant's Ears, Stoplight, Seagull, Mother-in-law Plant, Pink Cloud, Texas Wonder, Angel-Wings, Exposition, Candidum, Fancy-leaved Caladium.
Cats and dogs
Toxic to cats and dogs
What makes it toxic: Insoluble calcium oxalates.
Signs to watch for: Oral irritation, pain and swelling of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting (not horses), difficulty swallowing
Source: ASPCA entry "Caladium", checked October 3, 2026.
Light
- Low light 3+ mol
- Medium light 6+ mol Copes
- Bright indirect 10+ mol Best
- Direct sun 12+ mol
As a houseplant, Wisconsin advises a warm spot with bright but indirect light and high humidity. Outdoors the sources favor partial or dappled shade: most types tolerate only early-morning sun, full sun dulls leaf color, and full shade reduces vigour.
Direct sun: a little gentle morning sun is fine.
On our scale it grows well from about 10 mol/m²/day and holds on down to roughly 1.1 (how these numbers are set).
Care
Care level: Demanding. Water: Keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy while in leaf; stop watering when leaves die back and the plant goes dormant.
Even indoors, caladiums go dormant after a few months in leaf and need a rest period before regrowing (Wisconsin).
Pet-safe plants for similar light
- African violet bright indirect light
- Boston fern bright indirect light
- Cape primrose (Streptocarpus) bright indirect light
- Christmas cactus bright indirect light
- Earth star (Cryptanthus) bright indirect light
- Friendship plant (Pilea involucrata) bright indirect light
Sources
- Toxicity: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, "Caladium"
- Light and care: University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension (Wisconsin Horticulture), "Caladiums"
- Light and care: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, "Caladium"
- Light and care: Clemson Cooperative Extension HGIC, "Caladium"