On Gardening: Crème Brulee is eye candy for the landscape

Norman Winter, Tribune News Service on Sep 18, 2025

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Crème Brulee looks to be like a rare colored dessert for the landscape in 2026. It is the newest selection in the Heart to Heart series of caladiums. I've been wanting to get my hands on some bulbs, and now I look a little like the Yorkie that chased down the car. As in, what do I do with it?

Heart to Heart Crème Brulee caladium is promoted for the shade. So, when you start thinking of partners, you’ll obviously be choosing those that can thrive in the shade too. I got mine late in the season, so combinations were limited to what I had in the garden.

Heart to Heart Crème Brulee will reach about 16 inches tall with a 14-inch spread. In addition to trying different partners in color, I also stretched and pushed the envelope in giving it a little more sun. This definitely enhances the red or rust shades.

I tried it with the Crested Surf fern that has blue gray foliage and burgundy stems. While I like it, the partnership with Crested Surf and Heart to Heart to Splash of Wine caladiums popped in the shade.

In areas where I had a little more sun, I tried Crème Brulee with Supertunia Vista Cool Jazz and Supertunia Mini Vista petunias, and I think this has possibilities.

The colors that really surprised me were in the pink category. Pink bedding impatiens and lavender pink or orchid SunPatiens made good partnerships.

This looks to be a scorching hot new variety for 2026, so this column is a little different in that I am telling you possible combinations without having tried everything myself. I love caladiums and hostas and I think there could be some magic with Crème Brulee, but the marriage I would like to try the most is with heuchera like Primo Wild Rose and Primo Mahogany Monster.

The past 5 years I’ve grown a lot of caladiums and was dreading what I thought to be a labor-intensive project but the Twist ‘n Plant auger makes it so easy and lightning fast.

I have also developed an appreciation for planting one bulb at a time in leftover quart pots. This lets me plan where each transplant will go. I use the Twist ‘n Plant auger for planting the transplants too.

Mid-August through the first couple of weeks in September have been brutal in our area but Heart to Heart caladiums have been real troopers. Source your Heart to Heart Crème Brulee caladiums soon to make sure you get some and share your photos of the combinations you created.

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(Norman Winter, horticulturist, garden speaker and author of “Tough-as-Nails Flowers for the South” and “Captivating Combinations: Color and Style in the Garden.” Follow him on Facebook @NormanWinterTheGardenGuy.)

(NOTE TO EDITORS: Norman Winter receives complimentary plants to review from the companies he covers.)