Caladium Bicolor 'Frieda Hemple'

Operatic, radiant, and dripping in dramatic crimson! Named after the famous soprano, Caladium bicolor 'Frieda Hemple' hits all the high notes with large, heart-shaped leaves centered in deep, glowing ruby-red and framed by a rich forest-green border. With its striking contrast and classic heirloom heritage, this theatrical beauty commands center stage in any bright indoor room or shaded garden collection.

  • Toxic to pets and children
  • Repot once a year
  • Fertilize once a month
  • Average water
  • Bright, indirect light

About Caladium Bicolor 'Frieda Hemple'

Origin

Derived from tropical South and Central American Caladium bicolor stock, this classic heirloom variety has been cultivated for decades for its intense, deep-red foliage!

Air Purifying

Absolutely! Its broad, rich leaves double as natural air purifiers, helping scrub common indoor toxins to keep your living space fresh.

Toxicity

Toxic to pets and humans if ingested. Keep this fiery heirloom safely elevated and out of reach of curious cats, dogs, and toddlers.

How to Identify

Features heart-shaped (fancy-leaf) foliage boasting a solid, radiant deep-crimson to ruby-red center bordered by a lush, dark green outer margin, with matching crimson main veins. It is easily distinguished from 'Postman Joyner' (which has a bright, glowing red center with contrasting dark red veins) and 'Classic Pink' by its rich, velvety dark-red saturation that doesn't fade to pink.

Caring for Caladium Bicolor 'Frieda Hemple'

Watering

Keep soil consistently and evenly moist during spring and summer active growth. Water when the top 20% of soil feels dry, and taper off as autumn approaches.

Light and Placement

Thrives in bright, indirect sunlight. Strong indirect light maintains the intense, rich ruby-red saturation without burning the leaf surface.

Nutrition

Treat it to a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer every 2–3 weeks throughout spring and summer to support its rapid seasonal growth.

Repotting

Plant tubers in spring in a rich, chunky, well-draining potting mix. When foliage dies back naturally in late fall, store dormant tubers in a warm, dry spot until spring.

Pruning and Flowering

Snip off older or yellowing leaves near the base using clean shears. Pinch off any flower spathes early so energy stays focused on producing those deep crimson leaves!

Caladium Bicolor 'Frieda Hemple' SOS

Illness

Brown, crispy leaf edges signal low humidity or under-watering. Total leaf loss in late autumn is natural seasonal dormancy—simply pause watering until spring!

Now sit back and relax, our App will take care of the rest.

Hassle-free plant care with the Plantsome App!

Get the app