Altar Lily Zantedeschia aethiopica
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Calla Lily and Arum Lily
- Phonetic Spelling
- zan-teh-DESK-ee-uh ee-thee-OH-pih-kuh
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Zantedeschia aethiopica 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. Not true lilies, but related to Arum family (Jack in the pulpit). Typically grow in clumps. Plant in 1 to 2 gallon container; rich soil; cover with up to 2 inches of water; sun to partial shade; may need to overwinter indoors. 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.
- 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:
- Zantedeschia
- Species:
- aethiopica
- Family:
- Araceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Native to southern Africa in Lesotho, South Africa, and Swazilan
- Distribution:
- Kenya, Madeira, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, coastal California and Australia
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Shade
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 3 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Houseplant
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Water Plant
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7b, 7a, 8a, 8b, 9b, 9a, 10b, 10a
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spadix
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Funnel
- Flower Petals:
- Bracts
- Flower Size:
- > 6 inches
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Variegated
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Pond
- Riparian
- Landscape Theme:
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Poor Soil
- Rabbits
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Medium
- Poison Symptoms:
- Oral irritation, pain, and swelling of mouth, tongue, and lips, excessive drooling, stomach pain, vomiting (not horses), diarrhea, difficulty swallowing
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- calcium oxalate
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Flowers
- Leaves
- Roots
- Sap/Juice
- Stems
