CALADIUMS MAKE FOR A LOT OF JOY

LAKE PLACID-BASED HAPPINESS FARMS IS A KEY GROWER

Written by: Ava Grace

With impressive arrowhead-shaped leaves, lively patterns in white, pink and red, and catchy names such as Florida Moonlight, Red Flash and Tapestry, caladiums are conversation pieces—whether they rest along borders, grow under trees or burst out of window boxes.

e flowering plants, which originated in the Amazon River basin, flourish in Lake Placid, Florida, in Highlands County.

e town is called the “Caladium Capital of the World” because 80 percent of the world’s supply is grown there.

Caladiums thrive in tropical climates, are dormant in winter, begin growing in late spring and through the summer, and are a summer tuber. All grow well in shade; there are sun varieties.

“Happiness Farms is one of the original growers. It is now the largest grower in Lake Placid,” explains farm co-owner Danielle Phypers Daum.

The farm’s story dates to the 1940s: Her grandfather Paul Phypers (1903-1999), a potato-grower from Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, and originator of the farm, partnered with Bill Melvin, a Chicago building contractor and Florida landowner. They grew potatoes on 300 acres of Melvin’s 700-acre farm in Lake Placid. Phypers applied his knowledge of tractor mechanics and designed superior packaging machines.

In 1948, there was a flourishing flower market in New York City and along the East Coast, so Phypers tried his hand at growing flowers. anks to his packaging system, business succeeded and he quit potato farming.

Phypers subsequently purchased a 40-acre “Banana Farm” in Lake Placid—actually composed of mucky, lakebottom land. It was once part of Lake Clay, located on the southern banks of Lake Istokpoga. e mucky soil, with a low pH and up to 15 feet deep, was excellent for growing

At le chrysanthemums, Easter lilies and gerbera daisies—which Phypers was able to deliver quickly. e Hendry and Bates families also started growing caladiums around the same time. By the mid-1960s, there were nearly 25 caladium growers in town. e cut-flower market was becoming flooded with suppliers.

By 1957, the Melvins had sold their property to a cattle rancher, who then sold it to sod farmer Max Ho man. He decided to grow caladiums along the sides of his farm, even though a few small growers had attempted to grow them commercially in the late 1940s on about 50 acres, but it wasn’t profitable.

“Many people had never heard of caladiums—as they were not in abundant supply. Here was a beautiful backyard plant, with terrific potential, that had gone virtually unnoticed by gardeners everywhere,” adds Phypers Daum.

In 1964, Paul Phypers purchased half of Ho man’s sod farm and added it to his “Banana Farm” property. Wholesaler and retailer Happiness Farms quickly became the largest caladium grower in Lake Placid. Now, just seven caladium growers work the 1,200-acre bottomland of the old Lake Istokpoga.

“My grandfather decided that caladium research was essential and encouraged the University of Florida to begin working with caladiums in the mid-1970s,” Phypers Daum says.