Calla Lily
Zantedeschia aethiopica and hybrids
Calla lilies have elegant, funnel-shaped spathes in white or, in hybrids, yellow, pink, orange and near-black, above arrow-shaped leaves. White callas love moist soil, while coloured hybrids prefer drier, well-drained conditions.
Photo: Eric Hunt · CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
Essential Care Requirements
Light
Full sun, Partial sun
Watering
Moderate
Keep moist while growing; white callas tolerate boggy soil. Let coloured types dry off after flowering.
Soil
Rich, moist soil; pH 6.0–6.5.
Temperature and humidity
-5–32 °C · Moderate humidity
Feeding
Feed every two weeks while growing with a balanced fertilizer.
Pruning and propagation
Propagate by division, offsets
Cut spent flower stems at the base.
All parts contain calcium oxalate crystals that cause painful mouth irritation if chewed by people or pets.
Top Cultivation Tips
White callas can grow in shallow water at pond edges.
Coloured hybrids grow from rhizomes stored dry in winter.
Long-lasting cut flowers.
Wear gloves when dividing.
Common problems
Aphids
Small, soft-bodied insects that cluster on new shoots and buds, sucking sap and leaving sticky honeydew behind.
How to treat it →DiseaseBacterial soft rot
A bacterial rot that turns fleshy roots, bulbs, stems and leaves into wet, slimy, foul-smelling mush.
How to treat it →DiseaseRoot rot
Roots decay in waterlogged soil, so the plant wilts and yellows even though the soil is wet.
How to treat it →PestSnails and slugs
Night-feeding molluscs that chew ragged holes in leaves, seedlings and soft stems, especially in wet weather.
How to treat it →
