Altar Lily Zantedeschia aethiopica
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- zan-teh-DESK-ee-uh ee-thee-OH-pih-kuh
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Calla lilies are a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant in the Araceae (Jack-in-the-pulpit) family native to Africa. Contrary to the common name, they are not true lilies, the genus name is derived from Italian botanist Giovanni Zantedeschi (1773-1846) and the species name aethiopica means South African nodding to its origins. This plant is known for its very large showy white flowers that are popular as cut flower in the floral industry.
They typically grow 2 to 3 feet tall and maintain their large deep green evergreen leaves in habitats with high rainfall and moderate temperatures but are deciduous when cold temperatures hit or there is a prolonged dry season. They are commonly found growing along stream banks and ponds margins, marshes, where they can be considered weedy in some habitats.
Plant in the full sun to partial shade in moist, organically rich soil with plenty of leaf mold, rotted manure, and humus. In hotter climates, partial shade is preferred to avoid leaf and flower scorch though flowering may suffer. They are hardy to zone 8 but can survive in zone 7 if protected, otherwise, they may need to overwinter indoors. If you do not bring them indoors they can be considered an annual in the landscape. If transplanting rhizomes dig a hole 4 inches deep and place them 12 to 18 inches apart when the weather has warmed up in the spring and the threat of frost has passed. Typically found growing in clumps, they can be propagated easily by division during the growing season or grown from seed planted sparsely to accommodate the future fleshy root growth.
Callas will bloom from June to July with large showy funnel-shaped white spadix flowers. ThaThey can survive in up to 12" of water so they work well along pond margins or rain garden. It is a popular choice for cutting gardens or mass plant it along a border.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Japanese beetles can feed on the leaves and flowers. Rhizome rot is an occasional disease problem.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Crowborough'
Cold tolerant, suited to cooler climates - 'Green Goddess'
Green stripes on spathes, longer lasting flowers. - 'Pershore Fantasia'
- 'Pink Mist'
Pink spathe and spadix, best in partial shade, more difficult to grow - 'Red Desire'
Red spadix - 'Royal Valentine'
Burgundy spathe spotted leaves - 'White Sail'
Very large white spathe
- Crowborough'
- Crowborough', 'Green Goddess', 'Pershore Fantasia', 'Pink Mist', 'Red Desire', 'Royal Valentine', 'White Sail'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Crowborough'
Cold tolerant, suited to cooler climates - 'Green Goddess'
Green stripes on spathes, longer lasting flowers. - 'Pershore Fantasia'
- 'Pink Mist'
Pink spathe and spadix, best in partial shade, more difficult to grow - 'Red Desire'
Red spadix - 'Royal Valentine'
Burgundy spathe spotted leaves - 'White Sail'
Very large white spathe
- Crowborough'
- Crowborough', 'Green Goddess', 'Pershore Fantasia', 'Pink Mist', 'Red Desire', 'Royal Valentine', 'White Sail'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Zantedeschia
- Species:
- aethiopica
- Family:
- Araceae
- Life Cycle:
- Bulb
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southern Africa
- Distribution:
- Kenya, Madeira, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, coastal California and Australia
- Wildlife Value:
- Beetles and bees pollinate the flowers. Fruits are dispersed by birds.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 3 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Bulb
- Houseplant
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Water Plant
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
-
-
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:
- Frequent Standing Water
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8b, 8a, 9b, 9a, 10b, 10a
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Berries are clusters of round yellow-orange and 10 mm in diameter
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spadix
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Funnel
- Flower Petals:
- Bracts
- Flower Size:
- > 6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Large, showy white spathes that taper to a point appear on leafless stalks. Yellow 3 1/2 long spadix in the center. Lightly fragrant blooms appear from June-July.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Variegated
- Leaf Feel:
- Fleshy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Leaf Margin:
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Large fleshy simple heart to arrow-shaped (sagittate) green leaves with wavy margins and thick stalks.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- This plant is stemless, leaves come directly off the rhizome.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Pond
- Riparian
- Landscape Theme:
- Cutting Garden
- Rain Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Poor Soil
- Rabbits
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
-
-
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
