The upper surface has a green (RHS 137A) margin, up to 15 mm wide, bordering the entire leaf except for the basal leaf sinus where it is grayed purple (RHS 187B). Primary and secondary veins are red (RHS 53B to 53D). Leaves of Royal Flush TM ‘UF-18-49’ are peltate, sagitate-cordate, with palmate-pinnate venation. Plants used for describing leaf characteristics and color were grown in 20.3-cm containers in a ≈30% shaded greenhouse from intact No. It has shown outstanding performance in container forcing and landscape planting trials in Florida, and it was selected as “Best of the Best” in the 2013 Ohio State University cultivar trials ( Dolce, 2013 Pangborn and Pasian, 2013).ĭescriptions of color for plant parts are based on comparison with the Royal Horticultural Society Color Chart ( RHS, 1986). Royal Flush TM ‘UF-18-49’ is a new red fancy-leaved cultivar that has been selected for its vigor, tall stature, large leaf size, and sun tolerance.

Therefore, there was a strong need for new red fancy-leaved caladium cultivars. ‘Postman Joyner’ and ‘Florida Cardinal’ were also susceptible to fusarium tuber rot ( Goktepe et al., 2007).

Recently, ‘Freida Hemple’ was found highly susceptible to fusarium tuber rot, the most important disease that affects caladium tuber quality ( Goktepe et al., 2007). It was selected primarily for use in containers because it produces many leaves without the need to de-eye tubers. ‘Florida Cardinal’, released from the University of Florida caladium breeding program in 1988 ( Wilfret, 1988), comprised 7% of the red fancy-leaved cultivars grown. ‘Freida Hemple’ (33%) and ‘Postman Joyner’ (13%) accounted for nearly half of the red fancy-leaved cultivars commercially grown. Red fancy-leaved cultivars accounted for 23% of the acreage planted by Florida caladium growers ( Bell et al., 1998).

Approximately 95% of the caladium tubers used in the United States and worldwide are produced in Florida. Keywords: Araceae Caladium bicolor Caladium ×hortulanum new cultivar ornamental breedingĬaladiums ( Caladium ×hortulanum Birdsey, Araceae Juss.) are often used to provide color and a tropical ambiance to container gardening or the landscape ( Evans et al., 1992).

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