Calla Lily Care & Growing Guide: Elegant Blooms for Your Garden

Despite its somewhat clunky botanical name, Zantedeschia, the calla lily is one of the most graceful and elegant flowers you can grow. The common tall, creamy-white calla (Z. aethiopica) can reach up to 2.5 meters in height. Interestingly, despite the name, it is not a true lily but a rhizomatous perennial.

Native to southern Africa, the calla lily has become a global favorite. While traditional large white callas are still incredibly popular, modern hybrid mini calla lilies come in stunning colors ranging from chocolate brown, plum, and lavender, to rust, apricot, and bright gold.

Tips for Planting Calla Lilies

Calla lilies are surprisingly easy to grow and don’t require constant attention, making them a fantastic addition to both garden beds and containers.

• When to Plant: Calla lilies are usually planted in the spring. Wait until the danger of frost has entirely passed and the soil has warmed up.
• Location & Light: They prefer full sun to partial shade. In warmer climates, providing them with afternoon shade or filtered sunlight will help protect the blooms.
• Soil Requirements: Plant them in well-drained, loose soil. If you are growing them in pots, a high-quality potting mix is essential.
• Planting Depth: Sink the rhizomes (the bulb-like root structures) about 3 to 4 inches (10 cm) deep into the soil.

Calla Lily Care & Maintenance

Calla lilies love being kept moist. If you are planting them in a container, part of the secret to calla care is maintaining consistent moisture. Water them thoroughly after planting, and continue watering immediately whenever the soil surface feels dry.

To encourage vibrant blooms, apply a balanced (20-20-20) liquid fertilizer every other week throughout the active growing season. Applying a good layer of mulch around outdoor plants will help retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.

Overwintering: The Most Important Step

In cooler climates, you cannot leave calla lilies in the ground year-round. Temperatures dropping to around 20°F (-6°C) will kill the rhizomes. They must go dormant during the winter.

1. Once the blooming finishes and the foliage begins to die back in the fall, stop watering to allow the plant to enter dormancy naturally.
2. Before the first frost, carefully dig up the rhizomes.
3. Allow them to dry out, then store the rhizomes in a cool, dark, dry area (such as a basement or garage) until the following spring.
4. If you are growing them in pots, simply bring the entire pot indoors and store it in a dark place without watering it for a few months.

Calla Lilies as Cut Flowers

Because of their clean, linear forms, calla lilies are highly celebrated in floral design. They are a staple among brides for their bouquets and are incredibly long-lasting flowers, boasting a vase life of more than two weeks.

One of their most intriguing properties is the “bendability” of their stems. If allowed to warm up to room temperature, the naturally curved stem becomes pliable enough to gently bend or manipulate into striking shapes for modern arrangements.