Calla Lilies (Zantedeschia) are striking ornamental plants, prized for their elegant, often trumpet-shaped flowers and attractive foliage. Native to southern Africa, they have gained widespread popularity in gardens and floral arrangements. Calla Lilies bring a sophisticated touch to various settings, from garden beds to indoor containers, and are a favored choice for cut flower displays.
Understanding Calla Lily Varieties
Calla Lilies include various species and cultivars, offering diverse colors, sizes, and growth habits. Zantedeschia aethiopica, the common white Calla Lily, features large, pure white, funnel-shaped blooms. This robust species is often used in formal settings and wedding bouquets.
Beyond white, hybrid varieties come in vibrant colors like yellow, pink, orange, red, purple, and nearly black. These colorful hybrids typically have smaller blooms and a more compact growth habit than Z. aethiopica. Many cultivars also feature distinctive speckled foliage, adding ornamental interest even when not in bloom.
Essential Calla Lily Care
Calla Lilies prefer a location that receives full sun to partial shade. In regions with intense summer heat, offering some afternoon shade can help protect the foliage from scorching. They require consistently moist, well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. A slightly acidic to neutral pH, typically between 6.0 and 6.5, is suitable.
Consistent moisture is important, but avoid waterlogging to prevent root issues. Allow the top inch of soil to dry slightly before rewatering. Overwatering can lead to root rot. Calla Lilies thrive in warm conditions, ideally 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit (15.5-27 degrees Celsius), and appreciate 65-75% humidity. Fertilization supports vigorous growth and flowering; use a slow-release granular fertilizer in spring or a balanced water-soluble fertilizer monthly during the growing season, especially for container plants.
Planting Calla Lilies
Plant Calla Lily rhizomes outdoors in spring after all danger of frost has passed and the soil temperature has warmed to at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18 degrees Celsius). For earlier blooms, start rhizomes indoors about a month before the last expected frost. Choose a site with well-drained soil and adequate light conditions.
Before planting, enrich the soil with organic matter like compost to improve drainage and nutrient availability. Plant rhizomes 1.5 to 4 inches deep with the growing tips or “eyes” facing upwards. Space them 6 to 12 inches apart for proper growth and air circulation. After planting, water sparingly until initial leaf growth appears, then increase to maintain consistent moisture.
Common Calla Lily Challenges
Common Calla Lily issues include yellowing leaves, often due to overwatering, underwatering, poor drainage, or nutrient deficiencies. Root rot, a serious fungal disease, results from excessively wet or poorly draining soil, causing mushy roots and plant decline.
Pests like aphids and spider mites can damage foliage. Fungal diseases such as leaf spot or bacterial soft rot may occur, especially in humid or overcrowded conditions. Lack of blooms can stem from insufficient light, improper watering, or nutrient imbalances like too much nitrogen.
Post-Bloom and Dormancy Care
Proper care after blooming helps prepare Calla Lilies for their dormant period. Deadheading, or removing spent flowers, maintains a tidy appearance and encourages energy towards rhizome development rather than seed production.
As the growing season concludes and temperatures drop, gradually reduce watering as foliage yellows and dies back, signaling dormancy. In colder climates (USDA Zones 3-7), Calla Lily rhizomes are not winter hardy. Lift them before the first frost. After digging, dry rhizomes for a few days in a warm, dry, dark location. Store them in a cool, dark place (50-60 degrees Fahrenheit or 10-15.5 degrees Celsius) in a medium like peat moss until replanting in spring. In warmer zones (8-10), rhizomes can often remain in the ground over winter.
Calla Lily Toxicity
Calla Lilies contain calcium oxalate crystals, which can cause irritation if ingested or if sap contacts skin or mucous membranes. Ingestion symptoms in humans or pets include oral irritation, burning, swelling of the mouth and throat, difficulty swallowing, and gastrointestinal upset. When handling Calla Lilies, especially during planting or dividing, wear gloves to prevent skin irritation. Keep plants out of reach of children and pets to avoid accidental ingestion.