The Main Plant entry for Callas (Zantedeschia)

This database entry exists to show plant data and photos that apply generically to all Callas.

General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Fruit: Other: Berries green and firm when ripe. Peduncle bends toward the ground.
Flowers: Showy
Flower Time: Other: Seasonal
Uses: Cut Flower
Suitable as Annual
Resistances: Deer Resistant
Rabbit Resistant
Toxicity: Other: All parts of plant contain calcium oxalate crystals, an irritant to the mouth and esophagus. Toxic to cats and dogs.
Propagation: Other methods: Division
Offsets
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger
Miscellaneous: Goes Dormant

Image
Common names
  • Calla Lily
  • Arum Lily

Photo Gallery
Location: CA
Date: 5/9/2020
Location: CA
Date: 5/26/2020
Hot weather has made it kind of droopy.
Location: Thomasville, GA USA
Date: 2020-05-15
A newly released #Monarch (number 46 as of 5/15/2020) drying his
Location: Thomasville, GA USA
Date: 2020-05-06
In my garden
Location: Tacoma, WA
Date: 2023-06-24
Location: CA
Date: 5/25/2020
Location: Botanical garden of Crete
Location: Thomasville, GA USA
Date: 2019-05-10
Location: CA
Date: 5/25/2020
Location: Mentor on the Lake, Ohio
Date: 2018-06-25
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2018-06-06
Photo by gg5
  • Uploaded by gg5
Location: Columbus, Ohio USA, Zone 6b
Date: 2023-05-13
Location: Columbus, Ohio USA, Zone 6b
Date: 2023-05-13
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2008-06-14
Location: Fairfax, VA
Date: 2022-04-01
Forgot to take a tag photo
Location: 5b
Date: 2017-07-10
Leaf attached to bloom bi-variegated
Location: CA
Date: 5/25/2020
Location: Kalama, wa
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: Kalama, wa
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: z5 MA, my garden
Date: 2011-07-18
Z. rehmannii hybrid
Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2019-05-17
Calla Lily 017
Photo by purpleinopp
Photo by MarilynneS

Date: 2014-01-20
Photo by PiaLouiseSourvi
Location: my garden, Gent, Belgium
Date: 2010-06-08
Location: Botanical garden of Crete
Date: 2022-05-30
Location: Local garden in Russellville 
Date: June 25. 2022
Photo by Hazelcrestmikeb
Location: Poland
Date: 2020-07-11
Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2019-05-02
Pink Calla Lily 003
Location: central Illinois
Date: 6-6-07
Location: Poland
Date: 2021-07-15
Location: Fairfax, VA
Location: z6a MA, my garden
Date: 2014-08-23
Old bloom on a Z. rehmannii type.
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2008-06-26
14 blooms
Location: Fairfax, VA
Date: 2022-04-01
Location: Fairfax, VA
Date: 2022-04-01
Location: English Gardens, West Bloomfield, MI
Date: 2009-03-30
Location: my garden, Gent, Belgium
Date: 2010-08-05
Location: Sunriver Nursery, Orem, Utah
Date: 2011-11-22
Photo by Hazelcrestmikeb
Photo by Hazelcrestmikeb

Date: 2014-02-09
Location: Poland
Date: 2020-08-05
Location: Western Washington
Date: 2016-07-04
Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2019-05-02
Pink Calla Lily 004

Date: 2015-04-01
Photo by purpleinopp
Photo by purpleinopp
Location: Mentor on the Lake, Ohio
Date: 2018-06-25
Location: Kalama, Wa.
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2018-06-14
Location: my garden, Gent, Belgium
Date: 2010-06-18
Location: z5 MA, my garden
Date: 2011-08-25
Urn 36\"H. Z. albomaculata (in back) and rehmannii type easily to
Location: Sunriver Nursery, Orem, Utah
Date: 2011-11-22
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2017-05-31
Location: z5 MA, my garden
Date: 2011-06-24
Z. elliottiana yellow NoID, Picasso and pink NoID rehmannii.

Date: 2014-02-09
Location: Poland
Date: 2020-07-30
Location: Poland
Date: 2020-07-11
Location: Poland
Date: 2020-07-01
Location: My house
Date: 2017-01-21
I am growing these from seed
Location: Poland
Date: 2021-06-30

Date: 2022-04-01
Location: Schwartz Greenhouse, Romulus, MI
Date: 2009-03-30
Photo by dyzzypyxxy
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2011-06-21
Location: z6a MA, my garden
Date: 2017-10-25
Ripe berries
Location: Plano, TX
Location: Plano, TX
Location: English Gardens, West Bloomfield, MI
Date: 2009-03-30
Location: Manitoba, Canada
Date: 2015-07-10
Photo by PiaLouiseSourvi
Photo by PiaLouiseSourvi
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2015-09-20
Location: my garden, Gent, Belgium
Date: 2010-07-23
Location: z5 MA, my garden
Date: 2011-06-27
Z. rehmannii type
Location: z5 MA, my garden
Date: 2011-07-18
Z. rehmannii type
Location: Carbon Hill, AL 
Date: 2016-05-30
Calla lily
Location: Carbon Hill, AL 
Date: 2016-05-30
Calla lily

Date: 2014-02-09
Location: Terrell  patk
Date: 2016-05-13
Location: Poland
Date: 2020-08-26
Location: Poland
Date: 2020-06-01
Location: Poland
Date: 2021-06-13
Location: In my garden in Kalama, Wa.
Date: 2008-06-13
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: central Illinois
Date: summer
Location: Kalama, Wa.
  • Uploaded by Joy
Photo by dyzzypyxxy
Location: 5b
Date: 2017-07-10
Large container with compost and part sun
Location: English Gardens, West Bloomfield, MI
Date: 2009-03-30
Location: 5b
Date: 2017-07-10
Stamen
Location: English Gardens, West Bloomfield, MI
Date: 2009-03-30
Location: English Gardens, West Bloomfield, MI
Date: 2009-03-30
Location: English Gardens, West Bloomfield, MI
Date: 2009-03-30
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2017-04-17
in the basement
Location: English Gardens, West Bloomfield, MI
Date: 2009-03-30
Location: English Gardens, West Bloomfield, MI
Date: 2009-03-30
Location: Manitoba, Canada
Date: 2015-07-14
Location: Wood County, TX
Date: 2020-05-26
Location: Wood County, TX
Date: 2020-06-09
in small bulb/seedling pot

Date: 2014-02-09
Location: KALAMA WA
  • Uploaded by Joy

Date: 2011-06-05
Location: Poland
Date: 2021-06-25
Location: Poland
Date: 2020-08-05
Location: Poland
Date: 2021-07-03
Location: Aberdeen, NC (my garden 2022)
Date: August 6, 2022
Calla lily #80 nn; LHB p. 180, 29-4, "Named for Francesco Zantede
Location: Wood County, TX
Date: 2020-05-26
This plant is tagged in:
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Comments:
  • Posted by eclayne (Pioneer Valley south, MA, USA - Zone 6a) on Jan 13, 2012 10:40 PM concerning plant:
    I've found that planted 8" deep is best for those with corms. A bit less for the aethiopica. Full sun, well draining soil and a good mulch cover to retain moisture and reduce overheating of roots leads to happy Callas. They seem to be heavy feeders and like lots of water with aethiopica being the most demanding in that regard.
    I plant out in the 3rd and 4th week of May and the elliottiana and pentlandii cultivars bloom first, closely followed by the albomaculata and the rehmannii hybrids. Z. aethiopica is last to bloom, if at all.

    I generally lift the tubers and rhizomes after the first frost, however a WET cold autumn can lead to rot even if that KILLING frost is slow to arrive.
    All are easy to overwinter dormant as dry tubers/rhizomes. Again the elliottiana and pentlandii cultivars start breaking dormancy first, around mid to late April. They have to be stored with room above so the new shoots don't get damaged.

  • Posted by jmorth (central Illinois) on Jan 9, 2012 9:15 PM concerning plant:
    Also known as Calla Lily, Richardias, Arum Lily, and Spotted Calla.
    A relatively small genus of the aroids, but, by far, the most decorative in it's family.
    Named in honor of Giovanni Zantedeschi (1773 - 1846), an Italian botanist and physician.
    Plants are big in the florist trade. Popular in Victorian times and the younger generation of gardeners (ie - today).
  • Posted by Marilyn (Kentucky - Zone 6a) on May 20, 2013 3:09 AM concerning plant:
    Taken from wikipedia's page at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Z...

    "It is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant, evergreen where rainfall and temperatures are adequate, deciduous where there is a dry season. Its preferred habitat is in streams and ponds or on the banks. It grows to 0.6–1 m (2–3 ft) tall, with large clumps of broad, arrow shaped dark green leaves up to 45 cm (18 in) long. The Inflorescences are large, produced in spring, summer and autumn, with a pure white spathe up to 25 cm (10 in) and a yellow spadix up to 90 mm (3½ in) long.

    Z. aethiopica contains calcium oxalate, and ingestion of the raw plant may cause a severe burning sensation and swelling of lips, tongue, and throat; stomach pain and diarrhea may occur.

    It has been cultivated for the Easter floral trade since the early 20th century; hence the (ambiguous) name "Easter lily", common in Britain and Ireland. It has become an important symbol of Irish republicanism and nationalism since 1926 to commemorate the fallen of Easter 1916 and onwards."

Plant Events from our members
Seedfork On April 12, 2015 Bloomed
My first ever callas lily bloom
Seedfork On March 6, 2015 Plant emerged
piksihk On August 14, 2017 Plant Ended (Removed, Died, Discarded, etc)
piksihk On May 8, 2016 Obtained plant
purple
jonathy for Mom's day
Lalambchop1 On February 1, 2018 Seeds sown
WS'd in moist vermicuite in enclosed container.
SunriseSide On March 25, 2021 Plant emerged
First of the callas emerged
SunriseSide On March 11, 2021 Potted up
MrsBinWY On June 3, 2021 Potted up
5, 4 had second leaf
MrsBinWY On April 17, 2021 Seeds germinated
2
MrsBinWY On March 20, 2021 Seeds sown
7 seeds (all) of variegated yellow calla from Maulwurf. Soak 12-24 hours and germinate warm
WebTucker On July 20, 2022 Plant emerged
WebTucker On July 10, 2022 Transplanted
WebTucker On July 7, 2022 Obtained plant
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