As a romantic bouquet for any special occasion, the calla lily flower also provides an artful value and historical denotation.
Then, its pretty blossoms symbolize fairness and strong affection. Thus, the classic coloration of white becomes the most favorite bunch for a wedding.
However, a rainbow of elegant blossoms will give a dramatic form and graceful look to the garden.
Hence, they are a perfect option to embellish your landscape. These perennials will be charming cutting-flowers that last longer and give a sweet aroma.
Therefore, learn more about the calla lily cultivars from the following article. After that, you can differentiate the characteristics of each variety and choose the best flowers to grow in the backyard. Also, some top tips will help to maintain these attractive blooms.
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What is Calla Lily Flower?
The calla lily flower that belongs to the genus Zantedeschia is not the real Liliaceae. Similar to the philodendron and caladium, this plant becomes a part of the Araceae family.
Its misleading name is due to a botanist’s mistake in classifying the species.
Instead of focusing on the error, the calla lily flower has an eye-catching appearance that brings more than just a beautiful cutting bloom for a floral arrangement. It represents holiness, faithfulness, and modesty.
If someone gives a bunch of these colorful blossoms, nothing to say, but it conveys a specific message. Besides, the calla lily flower meaning expresses a symbol of rebirth.
The plant with trumpet-like blossoms play’s an essential function as a sign of raising Jesus from the dead.
Calla Lily Flower Facts
The calla lily flower that comes with its sturdiness is natively from Southern Africa. This perennial has several amazing facts that you have never heard before.
In Roman beliefs, the pretty blossom had been cursed by losing its appeal and getting a yellow spike in the middle part of the petal.
However, the unique spike still gives a pleasant look with lots of fun facts to know. The first is that the plant has poisonous inner blossoms.
Some symptoms that may appear due to the toxic are stomach pain, diarrhea, burning sensations, and swollen throat, lips, or tongue.
Therefore, if you use the species as cutting blossoms in the vases or bouquets, keep them away from pets and children.
However, they seem to be a tasteful food in some countries. The Asian gardeners in some regions cultivate the varieties for culinary uses.
The calla flower bulbs are delight ingredients for cooking, although the inner parts contain toxic that is harmful to people and animals. Just remove the poisonous blossoms, and enjoy this Asian cuisine.
Secondly, the petal holds many clusters of small flowers. Then, the swirling spathe functions to protect the inner blossoms.
Also, they grow well in groups. Likewise, you might place these extrovert plants in a circle or triangle form.
Furthermore, the calla lily flower that has a charming look will attract Pesky pollen. Unfortunately, this mass of microspores is very harmful since it can damage the beautiful blossoms.
Due to its stunning beauty, many famous artists from across the world use the calla lily flower as their prior subject of the artwork.
Thus, everybody can see the artistic-minded blossoms provide a long-lasting and fascinating appearance in a piece of canvas.
Identification of Calla Lily
A compact mass of the calla lily flower features large green leaves that resemble an arrow. They grow on upright stalks that are from underground rhizomes. These fleshy stems consist of other plant piece such as roots, bracts, and flowers.
The basic creamy white large petal comes with a yellow spike. This flower is synonymous with the trumpet lily since it has a cup-shaped mouthpiece.
Its fingerlike section in the center that sizes 3 inches tall is covered with numerous small blossoms.
Moreover, at the top part of the spike, there are male blossoms that produce an abundance of pollen. Meanwhile, the female flowers develop on the bottom side. Thus, both sexes grow together in the same plant.
Colorful Calla Lillies Varieties
The classic white calla lily flower is not the only plant that gives pretty blooms. However, several colorful varieties provide different unique features. The blossoms of other cultivars include yellow, pink, purple, red, and even black.
White Calla Lillies
The white calla lily flower or Zantedeschia aethiopica is a garden-cultivar plant that requires lots of watering.
Therefore, to grow this common variety, gardeners should keep the soil surface moist without saturating the ground.
Then, the perennial will bloom during late spring until the mid-summer season. This cultivar is the most familiar species that grow about a height of 91 cm and 61 centimeters wide.
Black Star Calla
The black calla lillies have a maroon ornament and lush green leaves with white markings. These varieties usually develop seven blossoms in the initial growth.
Then, plant the cultivars in August or September since they prefer growing in cool weather.
Additionally, the black star calla lily flower is not pest-resistant, so you should be aware of fungus gnats that might be annoying.
These flies will appear in potting mix and damp conditions. Their larvae that live in the soil will feed on the roots. Consequently, using pest control is necessary.
Purple Moon Calla
Elegant purple calla lillies come without any fragrance. These varieties feature dark lavender petals with yellow fingerlike centerpieces.
Similar to the black cultivars, they have speckled foliage. As cutting-flowers, you can arrange them with the orange or white species to evoke the coloration.
How to Grow Calla Lily Plant
The calla lily flower popularly grows in the garden and containers. It requires some conditions to thrive well. They include lighting, soil requirements, watering, humidity, and temperature.
As a tropical perennial, it prefers bright circumstantial light. It is because strong direct sunshine will harm the smooth petals.
Then, to keep the plant blooming, choose a moist area that is rich in nutrients. A clump of calla lily will thrive well in wet locations as well as alongside the ponds.
Moreover, the calla lily plant needs weekly watering in the first growing. After the rhizomes are developing, keep the soil surface watered.
Additionally, this variety likes a warm and moist condition with a temperature of 27 degrees Celsius.
Consider preparing the proper location becomes the most principle factor to cultivate the calla lily flower.
Start growing in the spring season when the ground is warm. The place can be either full sun or partial shade. Besides, ensure that the planting area has well-drained and loose soil.
Next, dig a hole at a depth of 10 cm for each bulb. It is better to add spacing about 12 inches apart. After that, place the specimens and cover the holes with soil. Remember to keep the ground humid by watering the plants regularly.
A Smart Guide on Calla Lily Care
Whether you cultivate the plants indoors or outdoors, they will thrive well in containers. It is because these media can support the tuber’s growth and rooting system.
Also, the potting mix is better than the soil. It should consist of less Nitrogen, high mineral substance, and organic fertilizer.
Indeed, the calla lily flower needs minimal care, so even a beginner can start cultivating this stunning perennial plant.
However, the carefree plant is still possible to be attacked by pests. They usually hide inside the trumpet-shaped petals.
Thrips are small yellow insects that often destruct on the plants. If you find that they are inside the flowers, blow to move them away.
Furthermore, to manage the pests, gardeners may apply an insecticide spray that has a natural substance with a specific bacterium.
Indoor Care for Calla Lily Flower
A potted calla lily flower can thrive well indoors. The requirements are almost similar to outdoor planting.
Fill in the pot with a rich and well-drained medium. Then, always keep the humidity since growing with containers inside the house will dry quicker than garden cultivating.
Some tips to consider are avoiding soggy soil but humid, giving sufficient indirect light, adding fertilizer every month if the plant is blooming, and cut the dried leaves near the soil surface.
Thus, this technique will stimulate more blossoms and new growth.
After that, when the dormant season comes, usually in September, move the pot to a dark location. Then, let the plant take a rest during the cool climates. Additionally, an annual repotting is necessary before the growing season.
When the root-bound happens, it is the right time to move the calla lily flower into a larger pot. The crowded rooting system indicates that the plant needs repotting. Lift out the specimen from the old medium, then transfer the individual to a new container.
A gentle repotting will not damage the roots. It is obligatory to fill in the container with soil about 2.5 centimeters below the pot’s edge. Do not forget to keep the medium moist for several days.
In conclusion, the calla lily flower provides a gorgeous appearance with various hues. Combine colorful shades of different varieties for growing in the garden beds, creating aquatic borders, and cutting floral arrangements. Enjoy how easy to care for them will be!