#267 Zantedeschia aethiopica Common Names: calla lily Family: Araceae (arum Family) Get link to this Profile or click for Datasheet Wallpaper Gallery (4 images)

This is the famous purple calla lily called 'Anneke'. The color is variable depending on light and growing conditions (in bright light the color is deep purple while those grown in shadier siturations may be pale pink). Click to download a large version of this image.

Location
The genus Zantedeschia occurs naturally in southern and eastern Africa, where the six species grow along lakes and in wetlands.

Jack planted 2 golden callas, a purple 'Anneke' and a white calla together in a 10 inch pot. Here they are at their peak in early summer - actually the white calla has aged to green (at center). Click to download a large version (800x600) of this image.

Culture
Callas are grown as perennials outdoors. They favor rich, organic soil with plenty of leaf mold, rotted manure, and humus. Callas will often bloom twice a year, in late spring and again in fall. Callas can be grown as greenhouse plants, too. They can also be planted outdoors in summer in northern temperate regions, then the bulb lifted and allowed to rest for a couple of months, and planted again inside and used through the winter as a house plant.
Light: Provide full sun to light shade. In hot climates, callas benefit from afternoon or shifting shade.
Moisture: Callas like a moist soil. Zantedeschia aethiopica can even be grown in shallow water.
Hardiness: USDA Zones 8-10.
Propagation: Propagate by division of the clumps.

Golden calla (Z. elliottiana) is a robust grower and easy to grow in containers. Click to download a large version (800x600) of this image.

Features
The large, showy spathes and lush foliage of calla lilies make them perennial favorites, indoors or out.

WARNING
All parts of calla lilies are poisonous if ingested and contact with the sap may irritate sensitive skin.

12/09/97; updated Steve Christman 06/22/06, 11/3/07

As with most bulbs, the Dutch have been busy hybridizing all the popular Calla lily bulb species, and American Meadows offers all the favorites in their wide selection of spring flower bulbs each year. (Sold Nov. through June.) You’ll find stunning colors with some of the newest hybrids, from "mango", bright butter yellow, pastel pink, even some that are really red. They also always feature the amazing royal purple calla lilies called "Anneke". Most of the bright-colored calla lilies are shorter than the famous wild white species, but you’ll find that at American Meadows, too. The world-famous Z. aethiopica from South Africa, often called "Florists Lily," is the snow white beauty that is always a wedding flower favorite and grows with dramatic foliage up to 3" or more. Your arrangements of this magnificent white calla lily will be just as spectacular as the expensive ones from the florist.

Calla lilies are easy to grow, as long as they have plenty of water, and they’re perfect for patio pots where you can enjoy their beautiful colors and exotic shapes close range. Of course, beyond callas, American Meadows always has a wide selection of all the other spring bulbs like dahlias, gladiolus, and scores more. No group of flowers assures you of more summer and fall color than easy-to-grow spring-planted bulbs.

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