# Calla Lily (*Zantedeschia aethiopica*)

The Calla Lily has elegant, trumpet-shaped flowers that can make any room feel special. They are often used in bouquets and decorations.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Wetlands and gardens
- **Also known as:** Arum Lily, Pig Lily

![Calla Lily](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426072/objects/4984.jpg)

## Appearance

The Calla Lily has a striking, elegant appearance, with a large, funnel-shaped 'flower' (spathe) that wraps around a central spike (spadix). Its colors range from classic white to vibrant yellows, pinks, purples, and even black, making it visually distinct from true lilies.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Liliopsida
- **Order:** Alismatales
- **Family:** Araceae
- **Genus:** Zantedeschia

## Interesting facts

- Believe it or not, eating any part of this plant can make you very sick!
- Native to South Africa, it loves growing near water, like swamps!
- Some varieties are grown for a unique dark purple color, almost black!
- Wow, its beautiful 'flower' is actually a modified leaf, not a true blossom!

## Special abilities

- **Scent Signal:** Calla Lily releases a subtle scent to attract insect pollinators, guiding them to its pollen-rich spadix.
- **Chemical Defense:** Calla Lily has needle-like calcium oxalate crystals that cause irritation when eaten, deterring hungry animals.
- **Underground Storage:** Calla Lily has a thick rhizome that stores water and nutrients, helping it survive dry periods or cold winters.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 60-90 cm
- **Spread:** 30-60 cm
- **Flower Size:** 10-25 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring to summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** High
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects pollen for food.
- **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — attracted to scent and pollen.
- **Eaten by:** [Garden snail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-snail) (*Helix aspersa*) — grazes on leaves and flowers.

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
- [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.

## Collections

- [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Calla Lily?

Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Calla Lily?

60-90 cm

### How wide does Calla Lily spread?

30-60 cm

### How big are the flowers on Calla Lily?

10-25 cm

### When does Calla Lily bloom?

Spring to summer

### Is Calla Lily edible?

No

### Is Calla Lily toxic?

High

### What is Calla Lily's lifecycle?

Perennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Calla Lily: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/calla-lily)