The Calla Lily (Zantedeschia) is a genus of flowering plants known for its elegant, trumpet-shaped bloom, which is actually a modified leaf called a spathe. Though not a true lily, it is a perennial whose lifespan depends entirely on its environment. It can be treated as an annual, a short-lived cut bloom, or a long-term perennial. Longevity ranges from just over a week for a single flower to many years for the underground storage structure, known as the rhizome.
Lifespan of Cut Calla Lily Blooms
A Calla Lily stem, once harvested for display in a vase, will maintain its beauty for approximately one to two weeks. This duration depends on how the flower is handled after being cut. To maximize this period, the water in the vase should be changed frequently, ideally every two days, to prevent bacterial growth that can clog the stem’s vascular system.
The stem should also be trimmed at a sharp angle during each water change to expose a fresh surface for water absorption. Keeping the arrangement away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and ripening fruit—which releases ethylene gas—will further extend the flower’s vase life. With careful attention, the bloom can sometimes last up to three weeks.
Longevity of Potted and Indoor Plants
When Calla Lilies are grown in containers indoors, their active growing period typically lasts around four months, including a blooming phase of six to eight weeks. Though many treat these potted plants as seasonal annuals, the plant is a perennial that can survive for multiple years with proper management of its natural cycle.
The key to long-term indoor survival is forcing the plant into a period of dormancy, which mimics its natural rest phase. Once the foliage dies back after flowering, stop watering and move the pot to a cool, dark location for two to three months. This dry rest allows the rhizome to conserve energy and prepare for the next growing season. By consistently managing this cycle, an indoor Calla Lily can reliably return to bloom for three to five years or even longer.
Calla Lilies as Outdoor Perennials
The Calla Lily achieves its longest lifespan when the rhizome is allowed to complete its perennial cycle outdoors. In warm climates (USDA Hardiness Zones 8 through 10), the rhizome remains in the ground year-round, sprouting new foliage and flowers each spring. Under these optimal conditions, the rhizome can survive and proliferate for a decade or more, effectively living indefinitely as a patch of returning plants.
In colder regions where the ground freezes, the Calla Lily is considered a tender perennial. The rhizome must be lifted from the soil before the first hard frost. This process involves digging up the rhizome, allowing it to dry, and storing it in a cool, dark, and dry environment, typically around 50 degrees Fahrenheit, until it can be replanted the following spring. Manually facilitating this overwintering process ensures the multi-year survival of the Calla Lily outside of its native range.
Essential Care Practices for Maximum Longevity
Achieving a multi-year lifespan depends on precise care that supports the health of the rhizome. The plant needs bright, indirect light indoors, or morning sun and afternoon shade when grown outside in hot climates. Consistently moist soil is required during the active growth and blooming phase, but it must never be waterlogged, as poor drainage is the primary cause of rhizome rot.
The most important step for perennial survival is allowing the foliage to die back naturally once blooming is over. As the leaves yellow, they transfer stored energy and nutrients back into the rhizome. If green foliage is prematurely removed, the rhizome is deprived of the necessary resources to fuel the next season’s growth and bloom production. Proper dormancy induction, including withholding water and allowing this energy transfer to complete, ensures the plant’s return year after year.