Description:

The calla is part of the Araceae family and the Zantedeschia genus, which includes seven species with rhizomatous roots, capable of reaching a height of over one meter. The best known of these is undoubtedly the Zantedeschia aethiopica.

Much appreciated for its elegance and beauty, it is a plant with no stem, with large, deep green sagittate leaves and funnel-shaped flowers, with fleshy rhizomes and splendid colors.

The flower is undoubtedly the most characteristic element: the spathe, that is a transformed leaf, has the appearance of a single large petal with a funnel-shaped curvature and, in the case of calla aethiopica, is of the well-known creamy white color. Wrapped in the spathe is the real flower, consisting of the yellow spadix inside.

Care:

The white calla lilies are of very simple cultivation: they are planted, in autumn, in a good soil rich in humus and very humid.

It is preferable to place them in a semi-shaded corner of the garden; these plants do not fear the cold, also because in the areas with a harsh winter climate the calla lilies tend to lose the entire aerial part, entering into vegetative rest throughout the cold season. They will begin to develop again when the first warmth of spring arrives; as soon as the calla lilies begin to develop the first shoots again it is good to resume watering and keep the soil slightly damp, even if they can bear short periods of drought.

Then the watering will be intensified when the summer heat arrives, to prevent the plant from deteriorating quickly.

The bush of leaves consisting of a white calla in full development can easily reach 90-100 cm in height, and 70-90 cm in width; if constantly left to dwell these rhizomes tend to periodically produce new rhizomes, causing the enlargement of the calle head; if desired, it is possible, in September-October, to dig up the rhizomes, and divide them, in order to obtain more clusters of calla lilies.

This calla species typically blooms between February and May.