Zantedeschia (Calla Lily)

Hardy Zantedeschia (Zantedeschia aethiopica) – The Resilient Arum Lily

The Arum Lily, scientifically known as Zantedeschia aethiopica, is a robust and elegant plant renowned for its striking white flowers and glossy, arrow-shaped foliage. Here’s an improved and organized description:

Key Characteristics of Arum Lily

• Appearance: Arum Lilies are known for their pure white flowers, which create a stunning contrast against their backdrop of lush, glossy, arrow-shaped leaves. This combination of flowers and foliage makes them a striking addition to any garden setting.

• Growth Size: These plants can reach an impressive size, growing up to 3 feet tall and wide (approximately 90 cm in both height and spread). This sizeable growth makes them prominent features in garden landscapes.

Ideal Growing Conditions for Arum Lily

• Water-Friendly Planting: Arum Lilies are uniquely adaptable to water-rich environments. They are well-suited for bog gardens, rain gardens, and areas adjacent to ponds and streams. Remarkably, Zantedeschia aethiopica can thrive even when planted in water up to 12 inches deep (about 30 cm), making them ideal for water gardens and similar settings.

• Hardiness and Winter Survival: These plants are hardy in zones 7 or 8, displaying a notable ability to withstand freezing temperatures. While their foliage may die back in winter, Arum Lilies are resilient, reemerging vigorously in the spring. To ensure their robust return, it is advisable to apply ample mulch in the fall, providing additional protection during the colder months.

Tender Zantedeschia: The Diverse and Delicate Calla Lily

Calla Lily, scientifically known as Zantedeschia, is a genus that includes some of the most visually striking and tender perennial plants. This article provides an organized and detailed overview, highlighting their unique characteristics and care requirements.

The Dazzling Array of Calla Lily Colors

• Vibrant Palette: Calla Lilies are celebrated for their wide range of colors, spanning nearly the entire rainbow spectrum. From the purest whites to deep, dark purples that verge on black, they encapsulate the vivid hues of a sizzling summer. These include golden yellows, deep oranges, burgundy reds, and even hot pinks.

• Hybrid Varieties: The remarkable color variety of Calla Lilies is largely due to their hybrid nature, combining traits from species like Zantedeschia elliotiana (golden yellow), Zantedeschia rehmannii (pink), Zantedeschia albomaculata (white), and Zantedeschia jucunda.

Unique Features and Growth Habits

• Speckled Leaves: While their flowers often steal the show, Calla Lily leaves are equally noteworthy. Many feature distinctive white-speckled patterns, reminiscent of paint splatters, adding to their ornamental value.

• Size and Growth: Typically, Calla Lilies reach about 12 inches in height (30 cm) and can spread up to 30 inches wide (75 cm), making them suitable for a variety of garden spaces and container plantings.

Versatile Uses and Care

• Gardening and Indoor Care: Tender by nature, Calla Lilies are often grown as houseplants. They also thrive in outdoor settings like beds, borders, and patio containers.

• Cut Flowers: As cut flowers, Calla Lilies are exceptional. They boast one of the longest vase lives, lasting up to 2 weeks. Their elegance makes them a popular choice for wedding bouquets and fresh floral arrangements. When cutting for a vase, it is recommended to carefully pull the stem from the plant rather than using a knife.

Water and Soil Requirements

• Less Water, Well-Drained Soil: Unlike their Arum Lily counterparts, Calla Lilies require well-drained soil and less water, making them relatively easy to care for.

Hardiness and Overwintering

• Climate Adaptability: Generally hardy in zones 8-10, in cooler climates (zones 3-7), Calla Lilies are often treated as annuals. For gardeners wishing to preserve their plants, the bulb-like rhizomes can be dug up before the first frost and stored over winter. Replanting the following spring ensures a continued display of their stunning blooms. Not sure about your growing zone? Check here.

Garden Design with Calla Lily

Calla Lily flowers are a popular choice in many types of gardens due to their striking, unusual flowers and attractive, arrow-shaped foliage. Here are some ideas for designing a garden with them:

Focal Point: With their dramatic, sculptural flowers, Calla Lilies can be an excellent focal point in a garden. Use them in the center of a circular bed, or plant them in large groups in a border to draw the eye.

Container Planting: Calla Lilies are excellent plants for container gardens. They add height and an exotic touch to a collection of potted plants. Use them as the ‘thriller’ in the classic ‘thriller, filler, spiller’ container design.

Waterside Planting: As Calla Lilies enjoy moist soil, they are a great choice for planting near a pond or in a bog garden. This will also help to accentuate their lush, tropical look.

Mixed Borders: Combine them with plants that complement their bold flowers and elegant foliage. Consider partnering them with low-growing, bushy plants like geraniums or tall, slender plants like irises. You could pair them with plants with contrasting foliage, like ferns or hostas, for a more dramatic look.

Cut Flower Garden: If you enjoy having fresh flowers in your home, consider planting a section of your garden with Calla Lilies. They make excellent cut flowers, and their blooms last a long time in a vase.

Tropical-Themed Gardens: Calla Lilies fits perfectly in a tropical-themed garden, with other bold and lush plants such as cannas, bananas, and elephant ears.

Remember that Zantedeschia comes in a variety of colors, including white, yellow, pink, and deep purple, so you can choose the one that best suits your garden’s color scheme.

Companion Plants

Calla Lily plants are versatile and can be paired with various companion plants. Here are some suggestions:

Hosta: The broad, lush foliage of hostas can provide a nice contrast to the elegant flowers and slender leaves of Zantedeschia. Hostas also prefer similar conditions of shade to part shade.

Fern: Ferns can provide a nice textural contrast with the smoother, more sculptural look of Zantedeschia. They also appreciate the same moist conditions.

Iris: Irises can complement the Zantedeschia with their similar sword-like foliage and striking blooms. Their preference for moist soil also makes them good companions.

Astilbe: The feathery plumes of astilbe flowers contrast Zantedeschia’s sleek, streamlined blooms.

Grasses: Ornamental grasses can offer a textural contrast, and their swaying habit can add movement to a planting scheme with Zantedeschia.

Heuchera: With their colorful foliage, heucheras can complement the bold flowers of Zantedeschia and extend interest in the garden when the lilies are not in bloom.

Water-loving plants: Since Zantedeschia enjoy moist conditions, they pair well with other moisture-loving plants like marsh marigolds, Louisiana irises, and primroses.

As always, when selecting companion plants, consider their light, soil, and water needs to ensure they are compatible.

Calla Lily Common Problems, Pests, and Diseases

Calla Lilies, while relatively easy to grow, can encounter a few common problems, pests, and diseases. Being aware of these issues and knowing how to address them can help ensure your Calla Lilies stay healthy and vibrant.

Common Problems

• Yellowing Leaves: Overwatering is a common cause of yellowing leaves in Calla Lilies. These plants prefer moist but well-drained soil. Soggy conditions can lead to root rot, which manifests as yellowing or wilting leaves.

• Lack of Blooming: Insufficient light can hinder blooming. Calla Lilies thrive in full sun to partial shade. If they are too shaded, they may produce lush foliage but few blooms. Excess nitrogen in the soil, insufficient moisture, inadequate dormancy periods (should last at least 2-3 months), foliage removed too early (preventing the plant from storing enough energy), deficient calla lily rhizomes, and incorrect planting methods could also be responsible for the lack of flowers.

• Frost Damage: Being tender perennials, Calla Lilies are susceptible to frost damage. In colder climates, it’s essential to lift and store the rhizomes over winter to prevent freezing.

Pests

• Aphids: These small, sap-sucking insects can attack the leaves, causing them to curl and become distorted. Aphids can be controlled with insecticidal soap or neem oil.

• Spider mites: These tiny pests are hard to see but can cause significant damage, leaving small spots or stippling on leaves. Increasing humidity and using miticides can help control them.

• Slugs and Snails: These pests are attracted to the lush foliage and can chew large holes in the leaves. Slug and snail baits, as well as natural deterrents like crushed eggshells, can be effective.

Diseases

• Bacterial Soft Rot: This is a common issue where the base of the plant or the rhizome becomes mushy and emits a foul odor. Good cultural practices, such as proper watering and avoiding injury to the plant, are key to prevention.

• Gray mold or botrytis: This fungal disease causes gray mold on flowers, leaves, and stems. It thrives in cool, wet conditions. Reducing humidity and improving air circulation can help, as can fungicidal sprays in severe cases.

• Root rot: Overwatering can lead to fungal infections in the roots, causing them to rot. Ensuring proper drainage and not overwatering are crucial preventative measures.

Prevention and Management

• Good Cultural Practices: The best way to prevent issues is by providing ideal growing conditions. This includes appropriate sunlight, watering, and soil conditions.

• Regular Inspection: Regularly checking your Calla Lilies for signs of pests or diseases is crucial. Early detection often leads to more successful management.

• Cleanliness: Keeping the area around your Calla Lilies clean and free of debris can help minimize the risk of disease.

• Proper Overwintering: In colder zones, properly lifting and storing the rhizomes in a cool, dry place over winter can prevent frost damage and loss.