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White Butterfly™ Caladium

Zhanao Deng

White Butterfly™ was released initially in 2008 under the name 'UF-340'. White Butterfly™ develops a large number of wide lance leaves with a large bright-white center surrounded by green margins.

 

Figure 1. White Butterfly™ plant produced by forcing three intact Jumbo (2½–3½ inches in diameter) tubers in a 10-inch pot and photographed 10 weeks after planting.
Figure 1.  White Butterfly™ plant produced by forcing three intact Jumbo (2½–3½ inches in diameter) tubers in a 10-inch pot and photographed 10 weeks after planting.
Credit: Zhanao Deng, UF/IFAS

 

Its performance in container forcing and landscape use is also improved in comparison to other white lance-leaved varieties (e.g., 'Florida White Ruffles' and 'White Wing'). In tuber yield, both of these varieties were similar to or better than the currently available commercial white lance-leaved varieties. White Butterfly™ produces multi-branched tubers that do not require de-eyeing for container forcing.

Origin

White Butterfly™ was developed from a cross between 'Florida Moonlight' and 'Florida Sweetheart'.

Description

White Butterfly™: Leaves are lance-shaped and have a white penniform venation. The central and main veins and the interveinal areas are white, and the margins are green (Figure 1). Plants grown for approximately four months in full sun in ground beds had an average height of 10.5 inches. Jumbo-size tubers (2½–3½ inches in diameter) are multi-branched and bear five to nine dominant buds.

Tuber Production

White Butterfly™ was evaluated for tuber production at the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center in Wimauma, FL, in 2006 and 2007. The soil was fine sand containing approximately 1 percent organic matter and having a pH of 6.2. In 2006, raised ground beds (32 inches wide and 8 inches high) were fumigated with a mixture of methyl bromide and chloropicrin at the rate of 175 lb per acre and covered with white-on-black plastic mulch. Caladium seed pieces (tuber pieces) were planted in the beds with 6-inch spacing between rows and in rows. A constant water table was maintained below the beds, using the seepage irrigation system. Osmocote controlled-release fertilizer (18-6-12, eight to nine months) was applied to the bed surface when shoots were emerging from the soil and the rate was 300 lb nitrogen per acre. In 2007, the beds (28 inches wide and 8 inches high) were fumigated using the same fumigant mixture. Caladium seed pieces were planted with 10-inch between-row spacing and 6-inch in-row spacing. A drip irrigation system was used to provide water (approximately 6 mm per day) and fertilizer (6-2-8 soluble fertilizer, an average of approximately 1.7 lb nitrogen per acre per day and a total of 259 lb per acre per growing season).

Thirty seed-tuber pieces were planted in each plot in April 2006 and April 2007, and tubers were harvested in Dec. 2006 and Jan. 2008, respectively. Tubers were graded by their maximum diameter: No. 2 (1–1½ inches), No. 1 (1½–2½ inches), Jumbo (2½–3½ inches), Mammoth (3½–4½ inches), and Super Mammoth (more than 4½ inches).

A production index was calculated for each plot as follows: number of No.2 tubers x 1 + number of No. 1 tubers x 2 + number of Jumbo tubers x 4 + number of Mammoth tubers x 6 + number of Super Mammoth tubers x 8. 'Florida White Ruffles', 'White Wing' (the two major white, lance-leaved varieties) and 'Candidum Junior' (a semi-dwarf, fancy-leaved variety that had a similar venation and coloration pattern) were included in the field trials as checks.

The tuber weight of White Butterfly™ was lower than that of 'White Wing', but was similar to that of 'Florida White Ruffles' and 'Candidum Junior' in 2006 (Table 1). In 2007, the average tuber weight of White Butterfly™ was 67–289 percent greater than that of the three checks. The production index of White Butterfly™ was similar to that of 'Florida White Ruffles' and 'White Wing', but 22 percent greater than that of 'Candidum Junior' in 2006. In 2007, White Butterfly™ was 1.2-fold to 2.8-fold greater than the commercial checks. In both 2006 and 2007, White Butterfly™ consistently produced the greatest number of marketable tubers, significantly higher than any of the checks. The majority of the tubers produced by White Butterfly™ were in the No. 1, No. 2, and Jumbo categories, with few in the Mammoth size category.

Container Forcing and Performance

The suitability for container forcing was evaluated by forcing tubers in 4½-inch containers. No. 1 tubers were planted either intact or de-eyed in a peat/vermiculite mix on 26 March 2007. The trial was conducted in a greenhouse with 45 percent light exclusion in Wimauma, FL. Daily temperatures in the greenhouse were from 60°F to 84°F during the trial. 'Florida White Ruffles', 'White Wing', and 'Candidum Junior' were included as checks.

White Butterfly™ sprouted 26 (intact) to 28 (de-eyed) days after planting, four to seven days earlier than the checks, regardless of tuber treatments (Table 2). White Butterfly™ was similar to 'Florida White Ruffles' and 'White Wing' in height when tubers were intact or de-eyed. White Butterfly™ produced a similar number of leaves as 'Florida White Ruffles' and 'Candidum Junior', but nearly twice as many leaves than all three checks when tubers were de-eyed. White Butterfly™ produced high-quality plants in small pots (4½ inches in diameter) even without de-eyeing (Table 2). When tubers were de-eyed, White Butterfly™ plants were of even higher quality.

Landscape Performance

Landscape performance was evaluated in 2006 and 2007 on the same plots used for evaluating tuber production. The overall plant performance was rated multiple times (July, August, and September) in each growing season, on a scale of 1–5, with 1 being very poor (few leaves and lack of vigor), and 5 being excellent (full plants, numerous leaves, and bright color display). Similarly, leaf tolerance to sunburn was also evaluated multiple times in each growing season on a scale of 1–5, with 1 being very susceptible to sunburn and showing numerous sun-damaged areas or holes on leaves and 5 being resistant to sunburn and not showing any sun-damaged areas.

White Butterfly™ was 10.6 inches tall, similar to 'White Wing' (9.4 inches tall), but taller than 'Florida White Ruffles' (7 inches, a very prostrate variety). (See Table 3). White Butterfly™ was shorter than 'Candidum Junior', a semi-dwarf fancy-leaved variety. White Butterfly™ produced the greatest number of leaves (33), exceeding both 'Florida White Ruffles' (27) and 'White Wing' (20). Leaves of White Butterfly™ were similar to those of 'White Wing' in length, but longer than those of 'Florida White Ruffles' and wider than both varieties. The performance ratings of White Butterfly™ were 3.9–4.4, higher than that of 'Florida White Ruffles' and 'White Wing'.

Recommendation

White Butterfly™ is intended for use in containers and landscapes. Its performance was outstanding both in pots and landscapes and superior to 'Florida White Ruffles', 'White Wing', and 'Candidum Junior'. De-eyeing is not required but can help produce shorter potted plants with more leaves. White Butterfly™ performs better in partially shady locations.

Availability

A plant patent was issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office for White Butterfly™ (PP21,347) and the plant patent right was assigned to the Florida Foundation Seed Producers, Inc. Propagation and distribution will be licensed by the Florida Foundation Seed Producers, Inc., PO Box 110200, Gainesville, FL 32611. Information on tuber availability and propagation agreements can be obtained from the Florida Foundation Seed Producers, Inc. (http://ffsp.net/).

References Cited

Deng, Z., B.K. Harbaugh, and N.A. Peres. 2008. "'UF-331' and 'UF-340' - New Dwarf Caladium Cultivars for Landscape and Pot Plants." HortScience 47(7):2231-2235.

Wilfret, G.J. 1991. Florida Sweetheart, a Rose Lance Caladium for Landscape and Containers. Circ. S-380. Gainesville: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

Tables

Table 1. 

Tuber weight, production index, and tuber grade distribution of caladium varieties harvested in 2006 and 2007. Values presented are means of three replications with 30 propagules per 13.5-square-foot plot per year.

Varieties

Tubers

Tuber distribution (%)

Weight (lb)

Production

index

Marketable (no.)

Super Mammoth

Mammoth

Jumbo

No. 1

No. 2

 

Year 2006

White Butterfly™

8.4

157

70

0

5

18

50

27

Florida White Ruffles

9.7

163

55

1

17

26

30

27

White Wing

12.6

164

50

3

13

38

33

13

Candidum Junior

8.8

128

39

3

11

50

21

16

 

Year 2007

White Butterfly™

7.7

155

66

2

6

21

28

43

Florida White Ruffles

2.2

43

30

0

1

4

27

68

White Wing

2.0

41

29

0

0

4

33

63

Candidum Junior

4.6

71

32

0

0

26

54

20

The production index is an indicator of the economic value of the tubers harvested and is calculated as follows: N (No. 2) + 2N (No. 1) + 4N (Jumbo) + 6N (Mammoth) + 8N (Super Mammoth), where N = number of tubers in each grade.

Tubers graded by maximum diameter: No. 2 (1 - 1.5 inches), No. 1 (1.5 - 2.5 inches), Jumbo (2.5 - 3.5 inches), Mammoth (3.5 - 4.5 inches), and Super Mammoth (>4.5 inches).

Table 2. 

Plant performance for caladium varieties grown from No. 1 tubers in 4½-inch containers in a 50-percent-shaded greenhouse, 2007, Wimauma, FL. Values represent the means of 10 plants produced from intact or de-eyed No. 1 (>1½ and <2½ inches in diameter) tubers planted individually per container.

Varieties

Days to sprout z

Plant height (in)

Leaves (no.)

Leaf length (in)

Leaf width (in)

Quality ratingy

Intact

De-eye

Intact

De-eye

Intact

De-eye

Intact

De-eye

Intact

De-eye

Intact

De-eye

White Butterfly™

26

28

7.5

7.5

13

20

7.5

7.5

5.1

5.1

4.0

4.6

Florida White Ruffles

36

36

7.1

6.7

11

13

7.9

7.9

4.3

4.3

3.3

3.5

White Wing

31

35

7.5

7.1

8

11

7.5

7.1

4.7

3.5

3.2

4.0

Candidum Junior

31

34

7.5

5.9

11

10

7.9

7.1

5.1

4.3

3.6

3.5

z Number of days from planting to the first unfurled leaf.

y Quality (as a pot plant) was rated on a scale of 1–5, with 1 being very poor, 3 fair and acceptable, and 5 being excellent in plant fullness and symmetry.

Table 3. 

Plant characteristics, performance, and sun tolerance from planting 1-inch caladium tuber propagules in ground beds in full sun (2006 and 2007). Values presented for plant height, leaf number, length and width are means of three replications with three plants measured per plot per year. Ratings of performance and sunburn tolerance are means of three replications based on whole-plot evaluation.

Varieties

Plant

height

(inches)

Leaf

Overall plant-performance ratingz

Sun-tolerance ratingy

Number

Length (inches)

Width (inches)

July

August

September

July

August

September

White Butterfly™

10.6

33

7.1

5.1

4.2

3.9

4.4

4.5

4.0

3.7

Florida White Ruffles

7.1

27

6.3

3.1

2.0

2.9

3.5

4.5

4.1

4.2

White Wing

9.4

20

7.1

3.9

2.0

2.3

2.9

4.2

4.1

4.3

Candidum Junior

12.6

17

9.1

6.3

-

2.3

3.6

-

2.7

4.0

z Plants were rated on a scale of 1 - 5, with 1 being very poor, 3 fair and acceptable, and 5 being excellent in plant vigor, fullness, and color display, in July, August, and September in 2006 and 2007, respectively.

y Plants' sunburn tolerance was rated on a scale of 1 - 5, with 1 being very poor, 3 being fair and acceptable, and 5 being excellent without showing any signs of leaf burns or resulted holes on leaf surfaces, taken in July, August, and September in 2006 and 2007, respectively.

 

Publication #ENH1109

Release Date:December 21, 2018

Reviewed At:August 30, 2021

Related Experts

Deng, Zhanao

Specialist/SSA/RSA

University of Florida

Related Topics

  • Critical Issue: Agricultural and Food Systems
Fact Sheet

About this Publication

This document is ENH1109, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date January 2009. Revised June 2012 and November 2018. Visit the EDIS website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

About the Authors

Zhanao Deng, professor, Environmental Horticulture Department, UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, Wimauma, FL.

Contacts

  • Zhanao Deng