Swamp Lily Calla palustris
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Swamp Lily:
Previously known as:
- Calla brevis
- Calla cordifolia
- Calla generalis
- Callaion heterophylla
- Calla ovatifolia
- Provenzalia bispatha
- Phonetic Spelling
- KAL-lah pal-OOS-triss
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Wild Calla is a small, rhizomatous, aquatic perennial with heart-shaped leaves and bears showy flowers and fruits during the summer. Colonies are frequently found in shallow waters of bogs, rivers, lakes, ponds, or swamps of the temperate and subarctic regions. They are members of the Araceae or Arum family. Other common names include Water Arum, Wild Dragon, Bog Arum, and Swamp Lily.
The plant is native to Alaska, Canada, the northern United States, northern Europe, and northern Asia.
The genus name, Calla, is Greek in origin for Kallos and means "beauty." The species name, palustris, means "marsh-loving."
Wild Calla prefers partial shade as well as acidic, humus-rich, and moist to wet soils. They may grow in shallow water. The plant is propagated by seeds or rhizome division.
The plant grows about 6 to 12 inches tall. The leaves are medium to dark green, heart-shaped, waxy, smooth, and have pointed tips and curling leaf margins. The leaf petioles are 10 inches long and rise from the rhizomes. A single flower appears on a stout stem which is about 4-12 inches tall. Each flower has an oval white spathe that partially surrounds an upright cylinder-like spike or spadix. The spadix is yellowish-green in color and is covered with small petalless yellow flowers. Blooms appear from May to June. Clusters of tiny pear-shaped fruits develop on the spadix after flowering. The fruits ripen from green to bright red in late summer. The roots are long and fibrous.
The foliage of this plant contains calcium oxalate that is toxic to animals and humans. The substance irritates the gastrointestinal tract. However, black bears may use the foliage as a food source in the early spring when food sources are limited.
In temperate regions, the plant may be used in ponds, streams, Rain Gardens, and Water Gardens. The flowers of the spadix are short-lived, but the white spathe is retained for a longer time. The medium-dark green foliage and bright red berries are showy and add interest to wetlands.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:
There are no serious diseases or pest problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Calla
- Species:
- palustris
- Family:
- Araceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Native Americans used this plant for treating snakebites, swelling, and soreness.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe to Japan, Subarctic America to N. & E. U.S.A
- Distribution:
- Canada: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, New Foundland, Northwest Territory, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and Yukon; USA: AK, CT, IL, IN, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, NH, NJ, NY, ND, OH, VT, WV, and WI; Europe: Austria, Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Central European Russia, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, East European Russia, Netherlands, North European Russia, Northwest European Russia, Norway, Poland, Romania, South European Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and Ukraine; Asia: Japan, Korea, and Manchuria; Introduced: Great Britain
- Wildlife Value:
- The foliage is toxic; however, Black Bears feed on the young foliage in the spring when their food supply is limited. Syrphid flies and Carrion flies are attracted to the flowers.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Edibility:
- EDIBLE PARTS: Dried berries are edible. Dried seeds and rootstocks can be made into a flour, but used only in times of need.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 4 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Poisonous
- Water Plant
- Habit/Form:
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Frequent Standing Water
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Obovoid-shaped, green or greenish-yellow berries appear after flowering that ripens to bright red. At maturity, the berries measure about 0.5 inches in diameter. The interior of the seed is gelatinous and contains seeds. The seeds are 0.25 inches long and dark brown in color. Their are somewhat flattened and ellipsoid in shape.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Spadix
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The flowers bloom from May to June. The single bloom consists of a solitary greenish spadix or spike and creamy white petal-like spathe. The spadix measures up to 1 inch long and is densely covered with small yellow petalless flowers. The spathe is oval to elliptic in shape and measures 1-3 inches long and 1 inch wide. It appears waxy and smooth.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Waxy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are medium to dark green, heart-shaped, and taper abruptly to a narrow point. The leaves are simple, and the margins are entire. The edges of the leaf curl inward. Each leaf measures 2 to 4 inches long and appears waxy and smooth.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- The flowering stem is smooth, green, and erect. The petioles are 3 to 8 inches long and stout.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Pond
- Landscape Theme:
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Children
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
