Zantedeschia aethiopica
(Arum Lily Calla Lily)
A wonderful perennial best in a sheltered position with a loamy soil
Protect from extreme conditions
- Height: Easily maintained to 1m
- Spread: Easily maintained to 1m
- Foliage Colour: Green lance shaped
- Flower Colour: White buds and white funnel shaped flowers
- Soil Type: Moist, boggy, loam, chalk, thrives in moist conditions
- Position: Semi Shade - Shade
- Hardiness: Reasonably Hardy once established, H4 (-5 to -10), cold conditions may damage leaves but the plant will re shoot from the base
- Type: Semi-evergreen
This perennial is small-medium growing and produces tall white arum Lily flowers.
Supplied in either a 9cm pot or 2 Litre pot, please select from the drop down menu when ordering.
The hardy forms of Zantedechia are varieties that derive from the species Zantedechia aethiopica and Zantedechia pentlandii, these are mainly white flowered varieties sometimes having coloured throats like Zantedechia aethiopica Kiwi Blush. Zantedechia pentlandii is striking in having bright yellow flowers.
All the Zantedechia we grow here are the hardy forms. To ensure these plants thrive in your garden it is best to plant them in moist soil in semi-shade, bright sun can slow their growth and scorch the leaves. Also in mild winters these perennials can be evergreen and put on growth through winter, in this scenario a sharp frost will kill these fresh shoots of the top growth but will not harm the plant, it will just re-shoot from the root in spring. A good mulch over winter greatly helps the plant too by insulating the shoots just below the soil from frost and ensuring a good strong root base from which masses of shoots will appear in the spring.
These plants can also be grown in containers and for this they will respond best to a loam based compost, they don't want to be planted too deep and respond well to regular feeding. When grown in pots the plants should be protected over winter as the root is above the ground (in the pot) and can be damaged by frost. The containers should be watered regularly and the compost should be kept moist at all times. These plants grow well in the UK, we have them here on our nursery in the South West of England but with a bit of protection (fleece in extreme conditions, mulch or moving containers into a greenhouse) they can be grown all over the UK.