Caladium Bicolor - Black Butterfly
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Caladium Bicolor ‘Black Butterfly’ – Dark Leaf Collector Caladium
Caladium bicolor ‘Black Butterfly’ is a moody tropical foliage plant with arrow-shaped leaves in deep burgundy-black to bronze-olive, finished with a soft metallic sheen. Each leaf is speckled and splashed with flecks of red, pink and lime green, and the slender stems are almost black. The leaves have gently wavy edges, and their colour shifts with the light, from near-black to bronze and green. Most caladiums are bright pinks, reds and whites, so this dark fancy-leaf caladium makes a dramatic indoor plant for collectors through the warmer months.
Why You’ll Love It ✔️
✔️ Dark, shimmering foliage – Burgundy-black leaves with a metallic sheen and scattered red, pink and lime flecks give it a rich, almost galaxy-like look.
✔️ Fast seasonal growth – In warm weather it grows quickly into an upright clump of leaves on dark stems, which suits shelves, tables and plant displays.
✔️ A caladium that breaks the mould – Its deep colouring is a striking contrast to the usual pastel caladiums, and it looks especially good next to brighter foliage plants.
Care Tips
🌞 Light: Bright indirect light brings out the sheen and the red and lime flecks. In lower light the leaves can look flatter and darker. Avoid harsh afternoon sun, which can scorch the thin leaves.
💧 Water: Keep the mix evenly moist during active growth and water when the top couple of centimetres begin to dry. Don’t let it dry out completely, but avoid soggy mix, which can rot the tuber.
💦 Humidity: It prefers 60% humidity or higher. A humidifier helps prevent crispy leaf edges, especially in air-conditioned rooms.
🌡 Temperature: 20–30°C is ideal. Keep it consistently above 18°C. As temperatures drop in autumn, caladiums naturally go dormant and the leaves die back. Reduce watering, keep the tuber dry and warm over winter, and new leaves will return in spring.
🌱 Soil: Use a well-draining mix of coco coir, coco chip & perlite that holds some moisture without becoming waterlogged.
🌿 Fertiliser: Controlled-release fertiliser is already added to the potting mix. During spring and summer, add a balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength every few weeks. Stop feeding once the plant begins to go dormant.
🚫 Toxicity: Toxic to pets and people if chewed or eaten. Caladiums contain calcium oxalate crystals that can irritate the mouth and throat.
Also known as: Caladium × hortulanum ‘Black Butterfly’, Angel Wings, Elephant Ears, Heart of Jesus
A dark beauty for collectors who like their foliage with a bit of drama.
A note on Caladiums: Caladiums vary naturally in colour, pattern, leaf size and shape. Even plants of the same variety can look quite different from one another, and from leaf to leaf on the same plant. Please treat our product images as a guide only. Caladiums are tropical plants and need consistently warm temperatures above 18°C to keep actively growing. When temperatures drop below this, they naturally go dormant and their leaves die back. This is a normal part of their growth cycle and doesn’t mean the plant has died. The tuber rests underground, and new leaves return when warm conditions come back.
We get a lot of questions about how our shipping works, so here’s a simple breakdown 🌿📦
Our shipping rates are charged per box, with each box able to fit up to 8 × 75mm potted plants.
As a general guide:
• 75mm pots make the best use of space, with up to 8 plants fitting in one box
• 100mm pots take up more space, so a box will usually fit around 3 plants depending on their size and shape
If your order requires more than one box, the website will automatically add the additional shipping charge.
For example:
• Up to 8 × 75mm plants = 1 box
• Larger 100mm plants use more box space and may reduce the total number of plants that fit in each box
General Shipping Info
Looking for shipping dates for WA, NT & TAS? Click here
For customers in QLD, NSW, ACT, VIC & SA
Shipping is capped at $22 per box.
For customers in TAS
Shipping is capped at $35 perbox.
This price includes biosecurity treatment, inspection and fees.
We ship orders to Tasmania once per fortnight.
For customers in NT
Shipping is capped at $35 per box.
This price includes biosecurity treatment, inspection and fees.
We ship orders to the Northern Territory once per fortnight.
For customers in WA
Shipping is capped at $35 perbox.
This price includes biosecurity treatment, inspection and fees.
We ship orders to Western Australia once per fortnight.
For customers in quarantine states, it is essential to check with your local Bio Security office to ensure the plants you are ordering are permitted. This is the purchaser’s responsibility PRIOR to ordering.
NT – quarantine@nt.gov.au
TAS – Biosecurity.Tasmania@nre.tas.gov.au
WA – qwa.import@dpird.wa.gov.au
Plants
We send plants exclusively with Australia Post Express. Our shipping app knows when there is a plant in the order and will only display Express Post rates.
As plants are top priority we ship them with the fastest method possible.
We do not ship outside Australia
We ship live plants Australia-wide! Please read the details for your state below. It is your responsibility to check that your plants are allowed in your state before ordering.
Shipping to TAS, WA & NT
Next Shipping Dates:
Note - the cut off for each shipment is the Monday prior for WA & NT, the Friday prior for TAS
NT Shipping Dates 2026
Friday 2 October 2026
Friday 16 October 2026
Friday 30 October 2026
Friday 13 November 2026
Friday 27 November 2026
Friday 11 December 2026
Note - the cut off for each shipment is the Monday prior for WA & NT, the Friday prior for TAS
WA & TAS Shipping Dates 2026
Tuesday 6 October 2026
Monday 19 October 2026
Monday 2 November 2026
Monday 16 November 2026
Monday 30 November 2026
Monday 14 December 2026
Tasmania (TAS)
Tasmania is the easiest quarantine state for us to ship to because we are certified to self-assess our plants.
Shipping cost: $35 per shipping bundle (includes all biosecurity treatment, inspection, and fees).
Shipping frequency: Orders are sent once per fortnight.
Order cut-off: Close of business the Friday prior to shipping.
📩 Tas Biosecurity Contact: Biosecurity.Tasmania@nre.tas.gov.au
Northern Territory (NT)
All plants shipped to NT require chemical treatment and a biosecurity inspection by a QLD Biosecurity Officer before shipping.
Shipping cost: $35 per shipping bundle (includes all biosecurity treatment, inspection, and fees).
Shipping frequency: Orders are sent once per fortnight.
Important: You must check with NT Biosecurity to confirm your plants are permitted before ordering.
Please note: We cannot send NT orders to PO Boxes. NT Biosecurity require a physical street address for all parcels.
📩 NT Biosecurity Contact: quarantine@nt.gov.au
Western Australia (WA)
🚨 WA Customers – Please Read Carefully 🚨
You must check the WAOL (Western Australia Organism List) before ordering. If a plant is not on this list, we cannot send it.
If you're in WA and you see a checkout error its probably becuase you're trying to order plants that are not permitted in your state, please refer to the WAOL.
Shipping cost: $35 per shipping bundle (includes all biosecurity treatment, inspection, and fees).
Shipping frequency: Orders are sent once per fortnight.
Important: You must check with WA Biosecurity to confirm your plants are permitted before ordering.
Delivery can take up to 2 weeks due to WA Biosecurity holding parcels for inspection.
📩 WA Biosecurity Contact: qwa.import@dpird.wa.gov.au
Reminder for All Quarantine State Customers (TAS, NT, WA):
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YOU are responsible for checking that the plants you order are allowed in your state.
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Check with your local biosecurity office before ordering.
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If plants are refused entry due to quarantine restrictions, we are not responsible for refunds or replacements.
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The shipping cost you pay at checkout covers everything—there are no extra fees beyond what you pay at checkout.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation!
