If you have ever been to Disney World in Orlando, and love plants you’ve enjoyed the colors, textures and designs. They claim it is “magical.”
Several times per year I visit Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, EPCOT and Hollywood Studios to take pictures. Recently, I spent 2 days walking EPCOT and Hollywood Studios filling my iPhone with images.
On this July trip, the park was full of Caladiums planted in various conditions and used in various ways. Many plants are still in containers and “sunk” into soil beds. This replacing plants or changing out displays much easier.
Explore how Disney uses caladiums to enhance its enchanting landscapes. These vibrant and colorful plants add a magical touch to the parks, inspiring visitors and garden enthusiasts alike. Enjoy the images and take away some ideas on how you can integrate these beauties into your own garden!
This is a close-up of a cluster of caladium plants gracing the entrance of the Beach Club Hotel at Dinsey. The leaves are large and heart-shaped with prominent pink and green veins. The central veins of the leaves have a bright pink color that fades into a lighter pink and then green at the edges. The leaf texture is smooth with a slightly waxy sheen. A few drops of water on them, suggesting recent watering.
Here’s another close-up of caladiums at the Beach Club entrance. The pink color with shades of green along the edges provides a natural and organic contrast. The overall look is lush and indicative of a healthy, thriving plant.
This image showcases a massive bed of vibrant pink-leafed caladium plants, at the hotel entrance. In the background, there is a classic-style wooden trolley car resting under a white-painted pergola, with hints of a light blue exterior of a building to the right side. The setting is part of the “beach” resort theme, with ly a resort, given the architectural style and the immaculate gardening.
Welcome to “France” the scene at Disney World’s EPCOT and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, also known as Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy. The black metal fence with decorative elements keeps the waiting crowds out. The caladium beds of pink and green are arranged in a curving pattern, with neatly trimmed short podocarpus hedges separating rows.
A closer look at the trimmed podocarpus and full of colorful Caladiums at Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure at EPCOT. NOTE: I am pretty sure Disney has tested which caladium varieties do best under full sun and shade conditions.
This large terracotta flower pot is overflowing with impatiens and caladiums. I’m not sure what the focal point is: the blooms on the impatiens or the vibrant leaves of the caladiums. Around the bottom of the pot, you can see where the water drains from the subirrigation.
Here’s another large terra cotta planter of the same style. The planting style is what is known as the “Thriller, Filler and Spiller.” The planter is spilling over the edge with the tiny blue and white flowers of Dwarf Morning Glory (Evolvulus Glomeratus). The “filler” are the white Pentas flowers and the pink New Guinea Impatiens. In the middle is the “thriller” the prominent pink-veined leaves of the caladium. The background, is the edge of a pastel green building resembling a storefront or cafe.
Here’s a row of unique gray-blue, large, wooden planters lined up against a beige wall on a cobblestone pavement. Each planter is filled with pink caladiums, blooming Torneia wishbone flowers, and iris. The planters have a classic design with finials at the corners, paneling, and ornamental studs embellishing the sides.
This large, ornate stone planter is filled with several varieties of variegated caladiums positioned at the center of the frame on a walkway. Surrounding the base of the planter is a lush carpet of bright blue flowering Dwarf Morning Glory that spreads outward, covering the ground. In the background, a serene body of water EPCOT is built around is visible. stant shoreline that features green landscaping and structures. To the right, a classic street lamp is visible, contributing to the scene’s picturesque quality. The sky is clear and blue, and HOT on the sunny day.
A sunny outdoor setting with a terracotta pot hosting the decorative purple-leaved Heuchera (Coral Bells) plant, with different sized spherical topiaries sculpted above it. In the center are caladiums with cream colored leaves and green veins bordered by trimmed podocarpus. The scene is set against a backdrop of a weathered wooden beam and a red brick wall, suggesting the setting may be a traditional or historic environment.
The image showcases a well-maintained “garden” with an assortment of plants displaying various colors and textures. In the foreground, there is a group of plants bearing pink and green variegated Caladiums, surrounded by a neat hedge of small-leaved, dense green shrubs. The overall appearance of the garden suggests careful landscape design, focusing on plant color coordination and texture contrasts to create visual interest.
This expansive bed of vibrant-colored caladium plants with broad leaves exhibit a mix of red and green colors. The leaves have pinkish-red veins that radiate from their centers towards the edges. Sunlight filters through the leaves of a large oak tree, highlighting their glossy texture. In the background, there’s a glimpse of an elevated monorail track silhouetted against a clear blue sky with a few white clouds. On the right side, partially hidden by the foliage, is the base of a large tree with resurrection ferms growing on the trunk with a garden light in the bed. The foreground shows a curved edge of a rough textured, stone-like material, part of the pathway or border. You know, the kind you tell your kids or grandkids NOT to walk on.
This garden bed is filled with several varieties of Caladium plants, known for their large, heart-shaped leaves that come in a range of patterns and colors. The foliage predominantly showcases a mix of pink, green, and white hues. Some leaves are green with white speckles and veins, while others are predominantly pink with green borders and veins. The plants are densely packed and look healthy condition.
Although it may not look like it, this is a potted combo planting in a rustic brown pot. The main feature is the prominent pinkish-red veins of the caladium plants. The red flowers are pentas. The plants with green foliage with streaks of white are variegated liriope.
These next few images are on the backside of EPCOT, across from where model trains run. I always enjoy this area because of the large containers that are always changing. I like to see things planted in large pots!
Lush caladiums with variegated green and white leaves are growing in a terracotta pot. Behind the pot, tall, slender purple salvia flowers rise above the greenery.
The image shows a large, weathered earthen pot filled with colorful variegated caladiums. The leaves are primarily green with prominent white and pink streaks, giving the foliage a vibrant appearance. The pot sits in a garden bed with some ornamental grass in the foreground.
Another planting of lush Caladiums (even in extreme heat) with vibrant green leaves with striking white and pink to red veins, spilling over the edge of a terracotta planter with decorative elements. The focus is on the Caladium and planter, with other greenery and flowers (Pentas) softly visible in the background.
Parked between two mobility scooters is a large terracotta pot containing caladiums with variegated green and white leaves. The pot has a decorative pattern and sits on a paved floor with reddish-brown tiles. Behind the potted plant, there’s a hedge of greenery.
This large terracotta pot planter, in front of a sign with the words ‘PASTA AL FORNO—SPAGHETTI,’ holds a giant iris and white caladiums. Some damp spots on the concrete around the base of the pot are from watering the plants.
This display is a vibrant garden corner in the “Italy” area of EPCOT. Planted is a dense spread of pink-veined foliage plants, predominantly covering the ground and gently hugging the base of a light brown terracotta pot. The pot, which sits in a niche where two textured walls meet, holds a contrasting caladium plant with large, pale green leaves with prominent veins. The ground-covering plants show a dynamic pattern of bright pink and green hues, and the arrangement exudes a lush and carefully tended appearance. Direct sunlight filters through, highlighting the textures and colors of the plants and casting soft shadows onto the light stone tiles below.
Several terracotta flower pots sitting on a stone-paved surface. The main pot features caladiums with large, heart-shaped leaves displaying a striking pattern of white veins, many with a bright pink or red star-shaped center. The hints of pink flowers in the midst of the foliage are Pentas. The composition is lively and cheerful, with the greenery providing a refreshing contrast to the terracotta pots and the stone ground.
This planter shows a variety of potted plants, including caladiums. The Caladium on the left has two varieties of large, heart-shaped leaves with pink and green variegation. To its right, another terracotta pot with a decorative rim contains a plant with smaller green leaves. Behind these pots, there’s a caladium with yellow and green variegated leaves. This indicates careful garden arrangement and attention to aesthetic detail.
Several large terracotta pots filled with caladium plants exhibit striking red and pink foliage with green accents alongside pots containing delicate blue dwarf morning glory flowers and lush greenery. The plants bask under bright sunlight, indicating it could be midday.
A close-up of a dense cluster of Caladium plants, featuring large, heart-shaped striking patterns of green, red, and pink hues. Each leaf is unique, displaying a range of spots, speckles, and larger blotches of colors.
At Disney even the trash cans become a planter. This picture shows a lush planting of caladiums pink and green variegated leaves, overflowing from a white trash container. Behind the plant and fence, a dense array of green bushes and trees can be seen.
At Hollywood Studios, when heading towards the Star Wars area, we ran across these Caladiums in a large, curved, raised bed planter with a tan exterior. The perimeter is edged with a ring of green ornamental Mondo grass, and these caladiums look like they are enjoying life under a tall date palm. In the background, there’s a collection of tropical White bird of paradise.
These potted caladiums enjoy a sunny outdoor setting while calling two large terracotta home. The pot on the left contains plants with green and pink variegated leaves, and it is surrounded by liriope grass on the ground. To the right, there is a similar pot with a brighter colored leaves.
This collection of red-leafed with green edge caladium plants is growing densely in a garden bed under a mature crepe myrtle tree. A metal fence with a brown wooden top rail borders the bed.
A bed of vibrant pink-veined caldiums, bordered by a low brick wall. Behind the flourishing plant bed, a neatly trimmed dark green hedge lines the area. Above the hedge, a yellow sign with the word ‘MARGARITAS’ in bold type is partially visible. The bright sunlight washes over the scene, highlighting the vivid colors of the plants and casting soft shadows.
This collection displays a vibrant array of pink-veined varieties with heart-shaped leaves and prominent veins. The leaves exhibit a striking gradient that transitions from green at the edges to bright pink towards the center. The plants are densely gathered and appear to be well-cared for, as they are lush and vivid.
This cluster is characterized by its large, heart-shaped leaves with striking pink and green patterns. The leaves exhibit a mix of deep green around the edges transitioning into shades of pink with green veins spreading throughout. Some speckles of sunlight are seen scattered across the leaves, suggesting an outdoor setting with partial shade.
Heading towards the Tower of Terror we found a large black planter on a concrete sidewalk against a pale yellow wall and black-framed window or glass door behind it. The planter is filled with lush, vibrant pink and green variegated caladium plants, with a dense cascade of smaller green and purple leaves surrounding its base.
This black rectangular pot is filled with variegated caladium leaves displaying shades of green with pink and white streaks placed in the shadows against the corner of a building exterior. In the background, partially visible through a glass window, is a display of a blue shirt with graphic designs.
A life-size bronze statue of an early film maker operating an old-fashioned, large film camera on a tripod. The sculpture is intricately detailed, showing the person hunched over, looking into the camera, with one hand on the crank. The camera and person are positioned on a rock-like base amidst vibrant red and green leafy plants. In the background, there are lush trees, a clear sky with some clouds, and a festive atmosphere with colorful flags. A green fence surrounds the garden bed of caladiums, and beyond it, people are seen sitting and enjoying the environment.
This large terracotta planter pot is positioned against an exterior wall with a textured finish, painted in light cream and accented with terracotta-colored trim at the bottom. The pot in the center contains a lush arrangement of caladiums. The Caladiums are surrounded by a dense cluster of smaller, dark green foliage. The ground appears to be a gray concrete sidewalk, and a shadow from the plant is cast onto the planter itself as well as onto the sidewalk, suggesting sunlight coming from the left.
This lush garden bed had plenty of shade with vibrant pink and green caladiums. In the background, a building with a muted green façade and decorative awnings can be seen.
This is a two-tier bed of caladiums with a patch of green mondo grass edging along a curved, textured concrete border. The sunlight casts a soft glow on the whole scene, indicating a sunny day with clear skies.
Disney is a great place to enjoy plants in many ways. If you visit, slow down and look beyond the shows and rides. You’ll find lots of color and ideas.