Nothing says “unique” and “elegant" like a calla lily. Callas make a spectacular addition to your garden, are popular as houseplants and very popular in cut flower arrangements and with brides.
In addition to the well-know white calla, these plants are available in various shades of green, pink, purple, yellow and orange.
The calla lilies are a flower that humans have been enjoying for centuries. While some have said that callas grow from tubers, they actually grow from a form of bulb called a rhizome and produces very large, spotted green leaves. Flowers bloom from the top of a fairly thick stem and rather resemble a twist of rolled paper. Callas are relatively easy to grow and are fabulous as a cut flower.
Beth Jarvis of the University of Minnesota Extension tells us that the botanical name for the calla lily is Zantedeschia. Quite a mouthful, I’d say. The calla belongs to the same family as the caladium and jack-in-the-pulpit. Related to the calla genus, it’s not a true calla at all. Although called a lily, callas are not truly members of the lily family. The members of the calla genus, after close botanical scrutiny, were discovered to not be as closely related as once thought.
Zantedeschia is a genus of twenty-eight different species, all native to Southern Africa. Once named after the famed Swedish botanist, Carolus Linnaeus, the genus was split up and renamed after the Italian botanist Giovanni Zantedeschi. Callas became a huge hit in Europe and, as we know, are still extremely popular.
Callas do well indoors or out. To grow callas indoors in a container, first moisten the potting soil. Place your mix of choice in a plastic tub and slowly add warm water, stirring with your hands until the mixture is moist but not soupy. Fill your container about 2/3 full and set your calla rhizomes, with the pointed growing part facing up, on top of the potting blend. Cover the rhizome with the rest of your mix, water thoroughly and place in a warmer spot in your house. Keep the soil moist until you see signs of an emerging plant. When you see that growth set the pot in a sunny window, preferably a Southern facing one. Callas are one of the few plants that thrive with wet feet, so make sure there is always water in the catch saucer of your plant. Your calla should bloom 8 to 16 weeks after potting, depending on how much sunlight it gets.
Plant your callas outdoors after the danger of frost has passed. Make sure to select a location that consists of bright morning light and partial shade in the afternoons, especially in hot summer areas. They like a rich, moist soil need to be kept well watered and weeded. Callas grow best when the soil includes organic matter. Plant the bulbs 4 to 6 inches deep and 1 to 2 feet apart. Fertilize monthly with a good organic all purpose fertilizer. Although callas are generally known as “spring bulbs”, in zones 8-10, callas thrive outdoors year around and can be planted at any time. In our valley, callas should be planted when temperatures rest higher than 55 degrees. Below that, calla lilies stop growing. Make sure that there is no danger from frost. If you’re in one of those zones-within-a-zone, or a frost pocket, you may need to lift your callas before the first frost and replant in the spring. A thick layer of mulch to over winter under could be enough to protect your callas if you’re not on one of those “zone-lets”. Rhizomes should be planted horizontally with the growth points facing up.
In addition to the well-know white calla, these plants are available in various shades of green, pink, purple, yellow and orange.
The calla lilies are a flower that humans have been enjoying for centuries. While some have said that callas grow from tubers, they actually grow from a form of bulb called a rhizome and produces very large, spotted green leaves. Flowers bloom from the top of a fairly thick stem and rather resemble a twist of rolled paper. Callas are relatively easy to grow and are fabulous as a cut flower.
Beth Jarvis of the University of Minnesota Extension tells us that the botanical name for the calla lily is Zantedeschia. Quite a mouthful, I’d say. The calla belongs to the same family as the caladium and jack-in-the-pulpit. Related to the calla genus, it’s not a true calla at all. Although called a lily, callas are not truly members of the lily family. The members of the calla genus, after close botanical scrutiny, were discovered to not be as closely related as once thought.
Zantedeschia is a genus of twenty-eight different species, all native to Southern Africa. Once named after the famed Swedish botanist, Carolus Linnaeus, the genus was split up and renamed after the Italian botanist Giovanni Zantedeschi. Callas became a huge hit in Europe and, as we know, are still extremely popular.
Callas do well indoors or out. To grow callas indoors in a container, first moisten the potting soil. Place your mix of choice in a plastic tub and slowly add warm water, stirring with your hands until the mixture is moist but not soupy. Fill your container about 2/3 full and set your calla rhizomes, with the pointed growing part facing up, on top of the potting blend. Cover the rhizome with the rest of your mix, water thoroughly and place in a warmer spot in your house. Keep the soil moist until you see signs of an emerging plant. When you see that growth set the pot in a sunny window, preferably a Southern facing one. Callas are one of the few plants that thrive with wet feet, so make sure there is always water in the catch saucer of your plant. Your calla should bloom 8 to 16 weeks after potting, depending on how much sunlight it gets.
Plant your callas outdoors after the danger of frost has passed. Make sure to select a location that consists of bright morning light and partial shade in the afternoons, especially in hot summer areas. They like a rich, moist soil need to be kept well watered and weeded. Callas grow best when the soil includes organic matter. Plant the bulbs 4 to 6 inches deep and 1 to 2 feet apart. Fertilize monthly with a good organic all purpose fertilizer. Although callas are generally known as “spring bulbs”, in zones 8-10, callas thrive outdoors year around and can be planted at any time. In our valley, callas should be planted when temperatures rest higher than 55 degrees. Below that, calla lilies stop growing. Make sure that there is no danger from frost. If you’re in one of those zones-within-a-zone, or a frost pocket, you may need to lift your callas before the first frost and replant in the spring. A thick layer of mulch to over winter under could be enough to protect your callas if you’re not on one of those “zone-lets”. Rhizomes should be planted horizontally with the growth points facing up.
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