Caladium praetermissum 'Hilo Beauty' (Camouflage Alocasia)

Caladium praetermissum, Camouflage Alocasia, Hilo Beauty

Botanical name: Caladium praetermissum

Common names: Camouflage Alocasia, Hilo Beauty

Cultivar: Hilo Beauty

Family: Araceae

Origin: South America

USDA Zone: 9-11?

Hardiness: 30°F

Caladium praetermissum (commonly sold as Hilo Beauty or Camouflage Alocasia) is valued for its striking, irregularly patterned foliage in shades of dark and light green with yellow accents, carried on distinctive bluish-black petioles. It thrives in shade to partial shade in moist, organically rich soil and grows well in boggy or aquatic settings. In USDA Zones 9 11 it can be planted outdoors year-round; in colder regions it is best grown in containers, kept frost-free, and provided with regular watering and light feeding during the active growing season. The names Alocasia Hilo Beauty and Colocasia Hilo Beauty are outdated or incorrect horticultural designations that became established in the trade due to long-standing misidentification.