Caladiums: Adding Color, Charm, and a Little Deer Deterrence to the Garden

Caladiums have become one of my absolute favorite plants in the garden. In our area, finding plants that my garden's four-legged visitors won't happily nibble can be quite a challenge! Fortunately, I have had great success growing caladiums in my garden beds for the past three years.

This year, I wanted to add even more color and contrast to one of my garden spaces. To create a bold display, I selected planters in a vibrant red tone and paired them with three different caladium varieties, each offering unique leaf colors and patterns. The combination has added a beautiful pop of color and texture to the garden.

One reason caladiums are so popular with gardeners in deer-prone areas is that they are highly deer-resistant. Their foliage contains calcium oxalate crystals, a naturally occurring compound that creates a bitter, burning sensation when chewed. As a result, deer generally steer clear of them. That said, I did notice a few nibbles on two of my caladiums this season. Hopefully, the curious deer survived the experience and learned an important gardening lesson!

Of course, every gardener knows that no plant is completely "deer-proof." If food becomes scarce, a hungry deer may take a taste of almost anything. Fortunately, most deer quickly decide that caladiums are not worth a second bite.

Although caladiums are considered tropical tuberous plants, they thrive surprisingly well during our warm summer months. And judging by the temperatures we've experienced during the summer of 2026, they certainly haven't lacked the heat they love!

This fall will be a new adventure for me. For the first time, I plan to dig up my caladium tubers and store them over winter in a dry location where temperatures remain between 50 and 60 degrees. With a little luck—and proper storage—I'm hoping they will reward me by returning next season ready to put on another colorful show.

For now, I'll simply enjoy their stunning foliage and keep my fingers crossed that both the caladiums and the local deer remember the lessons they learned this year!

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