Genus Zantedeschia (Calla lily)

zan-teh-DES-kee-ah

Common Name: Calla lily

Plants in the genus Zantedeschia hail from moist soils, swamps, and lake edges in southern and East Africa. The genus is made up of six species of perennials that grow from tuberous rhizomes and produce unusual looking white or brightly colored spathes. Leaves are lance-, arrow-, or heart-shaped. Elliottiana hybrids generally have green, heart-shaped leaves with white dots and yellow spathes, while Rehmannii hybrids have lance-shaped leaves and white, pink, or dark purple spathes. Grow calla lilies in a greenhouse, as houseplants, or as summer annuals.
Noteworthy characteristics: Unusual white or brightly colored spathes. All parts are toxic.
Care: In the garden, grow in rich, moist soil in full sun. Z. aethiopica is a marginal aquatic and can be grown in water up to a foot deep. Indoors, grow in full light, providing ample water and regular fertilization until the flowers fade. In winter, keep only moist.
Propagation: Sow ripe seed at 70° to 81°F; divide in spring.
Problems: Bacterial soft rot, rhizome rot, Botrytis, rust, and virus diseases are common.

Species, varieties and cultivars for genus Zantedeschia

Zantedeschia aethiopica
(White calla lily) Be the first to rate this plant

Hardiness Zones:

The most familiar calla, this 3-foot-tall and 2-foot-wide plant has large white flowers—up to 10 inches long—that surround a creamy yellow fingerlike centerpiece. They bloom from late spring to mid-summer. The upright, arrow-shaped leaves are solid green and glossy.