It is grown as a houseplant for its large, heart or lance-shaped leaves with striking green, white, pink, and red blotching.

It is a problematic invasive species in Trinidad and Tobago, Guam, Micronesia, Palau, Hawaii and the Philippines, and naturalized populations can be found in most of the rest of the world's tropics, including Africa, the Indian subcontinent, southeast Asia and Malesia.

[3] C. bicolor contains calcium oxalate crystals, making all parts of the plant poisonous to humans, livestock, and pets.

Ingestion may cause burning and swelling of the lips, mouth, and tongue, as well as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

[4][5] If a pet consumes caladium, in addition to vomiting, etc., the symptoms include drooling, pawing at mouth or face, and decreased appetite.