Zantedeschia

Zantedeschia

Common name: Arum Lily, Calla Lily (Calla is actually a separate genus), Lily of the Nile

Family: Araceae (Arum)

Height x width: 2-3' x 2'

Growth habit: clumping, rhizomatous, upright

Growth rate: rapid

Foliage: sagittate (arrow-shaped) 12-18" long, arising on long stalks directly from the base (no stems on this plant), dark green, variously marked

Flowers: spathe and spadix 4-10" long, variously colored depending on plant, on upright thick stalks directly from the base on scapes (leafless stalks)

Hardiness: USDA zones 9-10

Soil: moist, organic, to marginal aquatic

Light: part shade, tolerates sun especially in the north

Pests and Problems: few, sometimes fungi, aphids especially indoors; Erwinia soft rot bacteria of rhizomes (avoid by well-drained soils); Japanese beetles in flowers

Landscape habit, uses: massed, containers, accent, cut flower, water or bog gardens

Other interest: used extensively as a commercial cut flower, especially the white aethiopica for weddings and funerals; native to moist soils and wetlands of southern and eastern Africa, naturalized extensively in New Zealand; sap may irritate skin or cause discomfort if ingested; genus named in honor of the Italian botanist and physician Giovanni Zantedeschi

Other culture: as a marginal aquatic place up to one foot deep in baskets; dig and store dry indoors overwinter in cold climates, similar to gladiolus

Propagation: division, cormel offsets, seed

Species: of the 6 species in the genus, the following are most common for garden use

aethiopica (ee-thee-op' i-cah)--RHS award, white spathes to 10" long, fragrant; green leaves to 16" long
albomaculata (al-bo-mar-gi-nah' tha)--green leaves to 18" long, translucent white spots; flowers in summer white, pink to pale yellow with purple mark at base inside, to 5" long
elliottiana (el-lee-ott-ee-aa' nah)--RHS award, dark green leaves to 18" long, covered with translucent white spots; golden yellow spathes to 6" long; hybrids have broadly heart-shaped leaves
rehmanii (raa-man' ee-ii)--RHS award, dark green leaves to 18" long; white to pink or dark purple spathes to 5" long; hybrids have lance-shaped leaves, rarely spotted

Cultivars: often found in trade as species, but the following are the more common cultivars; those marked (A) of aethiopica and more popular in the UK

Cultivar	flowers	other
'Black Magic'	yellow, black base inside
'Cameo'	peach, darker inside
'Crowborough' (A)	white, 4-6" long	RHS award
'Flame'	opens yellow, turns red
'Little Gem'	white, 12-18" tall, fragrant	good for containers, from 1890
'Green Goddess' (A)	bright green, white centers	RHS award
'Pink Persuasion'	rosy pink, yellowish tints	large flowers
'Sunrise Mix'	mix of all above	2-2.5 ft. tall, from Brown family

Return to Perry's Perennial Pages | HGPO course | PSS123 course