Freida Hemple Caladium Bulbs | Red Fancy Leaf Tropical Foliage

Flame Red Leaves with Bold Green Border — A Garden Classic

Freida Hemple is a time-tested caladium variety prized for its large, vivid flame-red leaves with a clean, contrasting green border — a combination that is rich, tropical, and unmistakably bold. A medium-sized plant growing 12–24 inches tall and 18–24 inches wide, Freida Hemple’s large elephant-ear-like leaves make it excellent for borders, mass plantings, and container displays. It thrives in heat and humidity and delivers all-summer color from partial shade to filtered sun.

Plant Highlights

• Leaf type: Fancy leaf — large, heart-shaped
• Colors: Bright flame red with contrasting green border
• Height: 12–24 inches
• Spread: 18–24 inches
• Light: Shade to partial sun
• USDA Zones: 9+ (cold hardy to 20–30°F; lift tubers in fall in colder zones)
• Soil: Prefers moist, rich soil
• Great for: Borders, mass planting, containers, landscaping
• Thrives in: Heat and humidity

How to Plant Caladium Bulbs

Plant tubers flat side down, eyes facing up, 2 inches deep. Wait until soil temperature reaches 65–70°F before planting outdoors. For container plantings, de-eye tubers before planting to increase leaf count. Cover with 1.5–2 inches of well-draining, organic-rich potting mix and water well.

Care Tips

• Soil: Moist, rich, well-draining; add compost or topsoil at planting time
• Water: Keep evenly moist; avoid waterlogged conditions
• Light: Shade to partial sun; in sunny spots, ensure some afternoon shade during the hottest part of the day
• Fertilizer: Liquid fertilizer during the growing season promotes lush, vigorous growth
• Winter storage: In zones below 9, dig tubers in fall and store in a cool, dry place until spring

Freida Hemple is a proven performer — its bold red and green coloring delivers maximum tropical impact with minimal effort, season after season.