Growing Calla Lilies

A Hardy Flower for Gardens, Cut Flower Display and Weddings.

Jul 10, 2009 Beverly Bright

Calla Lilies are beautiful flowers that have been enjoyed for centuries in gardens and homes. Today they are used widely in weddings and even occasionally in funerals.

The calla lily flower blooms like a regal trumpet from the top of a thick stem and comes in shades of color from white to various shades of green, pink, purple, yellow and orange. Groupings of calla lilies are wonderful additions to gardens as they are easy to grow and maintain. The cut flowers are long lasting and are favorites to display inside the home. A single white calla lily in a high and sleek white vase is considered an interior decoration classic.

Calla Lily – the Name

It is interesting that although this plant is called calla lily, it is not a lily at all, nor a calla. The common name of calla lily is widely used, but the plant is really from the Zantedeschia genus which once was a part of the calla genus. The calla genus was separated into several smaller genuses after it was discovered by biologists that they were not as closely related as first thought. They all share the same family, the Araceae family.

Calla Lily from Africa

The Zantedeschia is a genus of 28 different species of native plants from the southern parts of Africa. From South Africa up to Kenya it grows continuously, making most inhabitants regard it as a weed. The calla lily was introduced in the South-West of Australia for horticulture and since then it has become a widespread and noticeable weed of watercourses, heath and moist pastures.

Growing Calla Lilies Outdoors

In the United States, callas grow best outdoors in zones seven through ten. The plant requires full sun to partial shade if the climate tends to be warmer. The calla lily grows from rhizomes and each growing season will produce more plants giving an abundance of new rhizomes to share with other gardener friends.

Being a very hardy and strong genus, the plant grows in most any soil providing the climate is humid enough. If there is a small pond nearby, the calla lily thrives if it can get roots to the moist soil surrounding the pond. Moist sandy soil, slightly acidic is perfect.

Winter Storage

In cooler zones the rhizomes should be harvested in the fall, as early as August in more northern climates or as late as October in the south. Allow the rhizomes to dry for a week and then cut or pull off the dry leaves. Remove any soil from the rhizomes and pack in dry peat moss, vermiculite or sawdust. Storage should be in a single layer with temperatures ideally above 50 degrees continuously.

Growing Calla Lilies Indoors

Growing calla lilies in a pot changes the rules slightly. The plant needs lots of water with free flowing soil. Some nutrition will be needed if the pot soil is exhausted, but otherwise keep nutrition to a minimum. It is very important that the lily be repotted each year. The soil is exhausted, new bulbs take up space and the build up of toxic levels of fertilizing by-products are good reasons to repot yearly. Repotting will make the calla lily much happier and healthier.

The book “Burpee: Complete Gardener”, published by Macmillan Incorporated in 1995 provides excellent information, guidelines and pictures of calla lilies. There are unique hybrids of calla lilies available, including “Black Magic”, having a yellow spathe surrounded by an ebony colored throat. Varieties of dwarf calla lilies are also available.

A Note of Caution

Although beautiful plants, the Zantedeschia species of calla lilies are very poisonous, capable of killing livestock, pets and children. All parts of the plant are toxic and produce irritation and swelling of the mouth and throat, acute vomiting and diarrhea. If any part of this plant is ingested, a poison control center should be called immediately.

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