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.

Habitat: Wetlands and gardens

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.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassLiliopsidaOrderAlismatalesFamilyAraceaeGenusZantedeschia

Calla Lily

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

Calla Lily releases a subtle scent to attract insect pollinators, guiding them to its pollen-rich spadix.

Calla Lily has needle-like calcium oxalate crystals that cause irritation when eaten, deterring hungry animals.

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

Helix aspersa

grazes on leaves and flowers.

Traits

Flowering

Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.

Ornamental

Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.

Evergreen

Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.

Fragrant Flower

Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.

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.