The Calla Lily (Zantedeschia) is prized for its elegant, tropical appearance, featuring broad, glossy leaves and distinctive, trumpet-shaped spathes that bloom in colors from classic white to deep burgundy. To maximize their beauty and ensure their health, thoughtful companion planting is beneficial. This involves selecting partner plants that share the same basic environmental needs and visually enhance the Calla Lily’s unique form, creating a layered and dynamic display.
Understanding Calla Lily Growing Needs
Successful companion planting requires matching the Calla Lily’s specific cultural requirements to those of its neighbors. Native to warmer, wetter regions of Southern Africa, Zantedeschia species thrive in rich, organic soil that is consistently moist yet well-draining, as the rhizomes are susceptible to rot.
The plants prefer full sun in cooler climates but benefit from partial shade, especially protection from intense afternoon sun in hotter regions. Companions must tolerate similar bright, indirect, or fluctuating light exposure. Calla Lilies are tender perennials, generally hardy only in USDA Zones 8–10, meaning they must be treated as annuals or overwintered indoors elsewhere.
Companion Plants for Visual Harmony
Selecting companions that offer a contrast in texture and form can amplify the Calla Lily’s stately, upright appearance. The Calla Lily’s large, broad leaves and vertical flower stalks pair beautifully with fine or delicate foliage, such as ornamental grasses like Fiber Optic Grass (Isolepis cernua) or fine-textured ferns, creating a lush, tropical feel.
For color harmony, use plants with deep, saturated foliage or flowers to make the Calla Lily’s spathes appear more vibrant. A dark purple Coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides) or a deep blue Hosta variety provides a rich backdrop that makes white, yellow, or pink Calla Lilies pop. Other excellent choices that share the moist, rich soil preference include Elephant Ears (Colocasia or Alocasia) and New Guinea Impatiens, which offer continuous color in partial shade.
When planting in containers, use the Calla Lily as the “thriller” and surround it with “spillers” like Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) or Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’ to soften the edges.
Using Companions to Hide Fading Foliage
A practical challenge with Calla Lilies is that their foliage often yellows and dies back in mid-to-late summer as the plant enters dormancy, leaving an unsightly gap. Companion plants can be strategically used to mask this by selecting varieties that reach their peak size and density later in the season. These “camouflage” plants should have robust, long-lasting foliage to provide coverage into the autumn.
Medium-sized Dahlias are effective partners because they grow tall and bushy throughout the summer and continue to bloom profusely into the fall, covering the fading Calla Lily leaves. Late-blooming annuals like Zinnias or Marigolds also provide color and visual bulk due to their rapid growth and dense flowering habit. Low-growing, dense perennials such as Hostas are a common solution when positioned in front of the Calla Lilies, where their substantial leaves can cover the base of the yellowing stems.