Species · genus Zantedeschia · Araceae
Calla Lily
Zantedeschia aethiopica (L.) Spreng.
Also known as: Altar-Lily · Arum Lily · Common Calla · Lily Of The Nile · Pig Lily
Cultivars of Z. aethiopica
The named forms growers keep — each with its own page, each honest about how much we know.
No named cultivars catalogued under Z. aethiopica yet. When growers document a stable, named form, it earns its own page here.
Guide
The species-level account. Cultivar pages build on this and say where they differ.
The arum lily
Zantedeschia aethiopica, commonly called arum lily or calla lily, is a clump-forming perennial grown for its large white, funnel-shaped spathes held above glossy, arrow-shaped leaves. It is the only hardy zantedeschia widely available, unlike the many tender calla lily cultivars grown as houseplants or summer bedding.
Source: RHS
A native of southern Africa
This plant hails from southern Africa and Lesotho, where it grows in a range of damp habitats including coastal marshes, montane grasslands, and old homesteads. Its genus name honours the Italian botanist Giovanni Zantedeschi, while the species name simply means African. The common name calla comes from the Greek kallos, meaning beauty, though it is not a true lily but a member of the arum family.
Source: Missouri Botanical Garden
Sun, moisture, and feeding
Give arum lily a spot in full sun or partial shade, in rich, moisture-retentive soil that does not dry out in summer, though flowering tends to be best in full sun. Water regularly through the growing season, especially in containers, but cut back sharply in winter to avoid rot. In fertile ground it needs little extra feeding, though a fortnightly balanced liquid fertiliser through flowering helps on poorer soils or in pots.
Source: RHS
Dividing established clumps
The easiest way to make new plants is by dividing established clumps of Zantedeschia aethiopica in spring, before growth gets underway, slicing through the roots with a spade to create several replantable sections. Dormant rhizomes can also be cut into pieces, each with a visible bud, and started off in pots indoors. Growing from seed is possible too, though seedlings will not reach flowering size for two or three years.
Source: RHS
Bold form, striking bloom
The plant forms clumps of long-stalked, dark glossy green, arrow-shaped leaves reaching up to 40cm, from which rise scapes bearing a white, funnel-shaped spathe up to 25cm long wrapped around a yellow spadix. Mature clumps typically reach two to three feet tall and one-and-a-half to two feet wide, and the flowers are popular as cut blooms.
Source: Missouri Botanical Garden
Aphids and thrips
Arum lily can be susceptible to aphids and thrips, and Japanese beetles may feed on the flowers and foliage. Indoors or under glass, it may also attract common greenhouse pests such as red spider mites and whitefly.
Source: RHS
Watering extremes and rot
Most problems trace back to water: plants in containers dry out quickly and need regular watering in the growing season, while too much moisture, particularly in winter, can cause the rhizomes to rot. Rhizome rot along with fungal and bacterial rots and a virus are the main disease concerns noted for this plant. Frost is also a hazard, especially for the tender calla lily types, which can be killed below 5°C.
Source: RHS
Deadheading and overwintering
Deadhead faded flowers by pulling the entire stem out at the base, which encourages further blooms rather than seed production; no other training or pruning is needed beyond tidying frost-blackened foliage. In most of the UK, established clumps can stay in the ground over winter with a thick mulch for insulation, though young plants benefit from extra protection. Large, crowded clumps can be lifted and divided in early spring to restore vigour and flowering.
Source: RHS
Care recipe
The species record — the baseline every cultivar inherits unless it says otherwise.
Care notes are early — not yet verified
- Light
- ai:claude-opus-4-8
- Water
- ai:claude-opus-4-8 (range 7-14d)
- Humidity
- ai:claude-opus-4-8
- Soil
- ai:claude-fable-5
- Care
- ai:claude-fable-5
Bright, indirect
≈ every 14 days
Medium
10–24 °C
Rich, moisture-retentive loamy mix
Division of rhizomes in dormancy
Balanced liquid feed every 2-4 weeks while in active growth
Moderate
Classic white spathe blooms in spring given a bright spot
Toxic to cats & dogs & humans
Araceae contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that irritate mouth and throat This is where toxicity lives: every cultivar of this species inherits it and none can override it.
Reference images
Every image credited. Licenses link to their deeds.
Sources: ai:claude-opus-4-8 · ai:claude-opus-4-8 (range 7-14d) · ai:claude-fable-5 · ai:claude-opus-4-8 (family inference)
Kept true by its growers
Every fact here carries its source. Grow Calla Lily yourself? What you’ve observed — how it drinks, how it holds its color, a name that’s off — and a clear photo of your plant are exactly what keep this page honest. Contributions are reviewed before anything changes.
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