Calla Lilies, known scientifically as Zantedeschia, possess a distinct architectural quality that makes them a striking focal point in any floral arrangement. Their smooth, trumpet-shaped bloom creates a sleek, sculptural silhouette. This refined, minimalist form is often associated with modern elegance and sophistication in floral design. Selecting companion flowers requires strategic choices to complement, rather than compete with, its clean lines.
Flowers that Provide Softness and Volume
The primary design principle when pairing Calla Lilies involves introducing contrast through mass and texture. The Calla’s smooth surface benefits from the addition of full, multi-petaled flowers that introduce a softer, more rounded shape. These “mass flowers” fill the space around the Calla Lily’s upright form, creating a visually balanced composition. Garden Roses, with their layered, dense petal structure, are a classic choice, providing a sense of lushness and traditional romance.
Peonies, which feature an abundance of delicate, ruffled petals, offer a dramatic volume that beautifully juxtaposes the Calla’s contained structure. The tight, concentric swirls of Ranunculus blooms provide a medium-sized, rounded texture that is less bulky than a Peony but still offers the necessary softness. When incorporating these flowers, florists use their broad, voluminous shape to anchor the bouquet. Hydrangeas, composed of numerous small florets clustered into a large, domed head, introduce a cloud-like volume and texture that is particularly useful for creating a romantic, full arrangement.
Linear and Textural Complements
Moving beyond the large, soft forms, other flowers are selected to enhance the Calla Lily’s natural verticality or to introduce fine, intricate texture. These linear and textural elements add depth and movement that prevent the bouquet from appearing too static or heavy. For instance, the tall, spire-like shape of Stock (Matthiola incana) echoes the upright stance of the Calla Lily but with a cluster of smaller, intensely textured blossoms. This parallel form creates an elegant sense of height and vertical flow within the arrangement.
Spray Roses, which feature multiple petite blooms on a single stem, provide a clustered, fine texture that acts as a delicate transitional element between the large Calla blooms and the surrounding greenery. Similarly, the delicate, multiple flower heads of Lisianthus (Eustoma russellianum) introduce a subtle, layered texture and secondary color without overwhelming the main focus. For pure textural interest, elements like Hypericum berries or specific foliage, such as the feather-like fronds of certain ferns, can be tucked between the main flowers. These additions introduce a darker, contrasting color and a small, spherical shape that breaks up the smooth surfaces and adds an organic dimension to the bouquet.
Pairing Calla Lilies with Specific Bouquet Styles
The selection of companion flowers and the chosen color palette determine the final aesthetic of a Calla Lily bouquet.
Minimalist or Modern
For a Minimalist or Modern style, the focus shifts to line and form, often utilizing only a few supplementary elements. This approach favors a monochromatic color scheme, such as white Calla Lilies paired with linear complements like green Bells of Ireland or sleek foliage like Aspidistra leaves. The arrangement emphasizes the Calla’s striking geometry, allowing the singular form to dominate the visual space.
Romantic or Traditional
This style embraces the contrast of form and color, relying heavily on the high-volume flowers from the previous section. It is built around pairing White Calla Lilies with soft, pastel-colored Garden Roses or Peonies in blush, ivory, or pale pink hues. The resulting bouquet is full and rounded, with the Calla Lilies providing sophisticated height above a base of clustered, soft texture. A cascading effect, where the blooms trail gently downward, often features in this style, utilizing the Calla Lilies’ long, smooth stems to maintain an elongated, flowing silhouette.
Seasonal or Rustic
This style incorporates Calla Lilies by blending their refined look with more organic, natural elements. It often features colored Calla Lilies, such as deep purple or burnt orange varieties, paired with highly textured components. The addition of seed pods, small branches, or earthy foliage like Eucalyptus and textured berries is common. The overall arrangement is less structured and more “overgrown” in appearance, with the Calla Lily’s clean form acting as a sophisticated anchor amidst a looser composition.