Calla Lily

Zantedeschia aethiopica · Flower

Quick answer: Water: Keep soil evenly moist; moist to wet soil; tolerates up to 12 in of standing water. Light: Full sun to part shade; afternoon shade in hot climates. Soil: Moist, rich in organic matter; wide pH range. Pets: Toxic to cats and dogs according to the ASPCA; chewing can irritate the mouth and cause drooling. Keep cut flowers out of reach, and ask your vet if in doubt.

An elegant plant with white, funnel-shaped flowers and glossy, arrow-shaped leaves. It grows from a rhizome and loves moist ground, even the edge of a pond. Where winters are cold, it is lifted in fall or grown in a pot.

Care at a glance

Light

Full sun to part shade; afternoon shade in hot climates

Water

Moist to wet soil; tolerates up to 12 in of standing water

Soil

Moist, rich in organic matter; wide pH range

Temperature

Hardy in USDA zones 8–10; tender types can die below 41 °F

Spacing

12–18 in; mature clumps up to 3 ft across

Container

Pot only slightly larger than the rhizome to start

Bloom/Growth

Late spring into summer, June–July; 2–3 ft tall

Lifespan

Perennial; seedlings take 2–3 years to flower

When?

Plant rhizomes in spring after the danger of frost has passed. In cold areas you can start them in pots indoors and move them out once nights are mild.

Step by step

1. Plant rhizomes about 4 in deep with the buds facing up.
2. Space them 12–18 in apart in moist, compost-rich soil.
3. Water sparingly until shoots appear, usually within a couple of weeks.
4. Once growing, keep the soil evenly moist; pots dry out faster.
5. In a pond, keep no more than 12 in of water over the basket.
6. Remove spent flowers to encourage more blooms.
7. Feed during the growing season; follow the label.
8. Where winters are cold, mulch the crown or lift the rhizomes before frost and store them dry and frost-free; potted plants should stay above 50 °F when dormant.

Common problems

Pets

Toxic to cats and dogs according to the ASPCA; chewing can irritate the mouth and cause drooling. Keep cut flowers out of reach, and ask your vet if in doubt.

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