Trending Tropicals® Collection: Meet Xanthosoma

Big, bold, and variegated! Make a statement with Xanthosoma.

Did you wake up this morning and wonder, “What do I have in common with Victorian plant lovers?”

Well, even if you didn't, you might still be pleased to know that if you love variegated plants, you have that in common with the Victorians. They were wild over any plants that had splashes, stripes, dots, and veins of lighter color on green leafy plants.

Variegation is caused by a genetic mutation -- nothing scary -- just the lack of chlorophyll in the leaves.

And if you love variegation, then you will love one of the newest introductions to the Trending Tropicals® collection: Xanthosoma. Botanists seem to be waffling about which species categorization this plant should be defined by. When shopping for this plant, you’ll find it identified as Caladium lindenii, Xanthosoma lindenii, and Phyllotaenium lindenii.

No matter what you call it, Trending Tropicals® Xanthosoma is a beauty. I have one in living room (above) and love the dark green arrow-shape leaves with bold, painterly creamy white veins. This plant adds a little element of the exotic to to the room.

I admit that I’m a big fan of variegation (just like the Victorians). I move my plants around my house, and I’m currently enjoying a textural trio in my kitchen -- a Xanthosoma, a stripy variegated lucky bamboo, and a Little Fiddle ficus.

I keep changing up the combinations, but I always like to mix in variegated plants for the contrast and texture they add. Try it! See care tips for growing Xanthosoma.ipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture">

Written by Karen Weir-Jimerson