Zantedeschia aethiopica - Calla Lily

Calla or Zantedeschia aethiopica is the white arum of florists, a superb perennial plant with tufts of large glossy leaves, whose beautiful white cones with a gentle fragrance are admired in spring. This plant is a rhizomatous perennial native to Africa that can withstand most winters under a thick mulch. Thriving in cool to moist soil, it excels around ponds and makes splendid flowering pots for the terrace. Its pure flowers last a long time in a vase.

Zantedeschia aethiopica, also known as the Ethiopian Arum, is a plant from the arum family native to South Africa, mainly in the provinces of Lesotho and Swaziland, as well as Mozambique. It has spread to East Africa (Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya) and has naturalised in the Madeira archipelago, the Azores, and Australia, particularly in Western Australia. In the wild, it is found in wet and periodically flooded areas such as the edges of streams and ponds. It is a semi-aquatic perennial plant with tuberous rhizomes, deciduous to evergreen in winter and summer, depending on the mildness of the climate and the moisture content of the soil.

In spring, beautiful elongated heart-shaped leaves with long petioles emerge from its rhizome, sometimes reaching over 60 cm (24in) in length, forming an opulent spreading clump measuring 60 cm (24in) in width. The plant spreads over time through the production of runner rhizomes. The leaves are shiny and a beautiful dark olive green. It flowers from May to July-August, and can continue for 4 months if the soil remains moist. When the soil dries out in summer, the flowering diminishes, the foliage dries up, and the plant enters dormancy. The cone-shaped flowers can reach a height of 25 cm (10in). They are typical inflorescences of the arum family. Each inflorescence is composed of a spadix, a central rod bearing tiny yellow flowers, surrounded by a large pure white bract called a spathe. The fragrance it emits is as delicate and surprising, evoking a hint of anise and iris.

Zantedeschia aethiopica is the embodiment of elegance in the plant kingdom. From its foliage to its pure white flowers, it impresses with its luxuriant simplicity. This plant, which loves heat and waterlogged soils, even appreciates having its feet in the water during its growth period. It will happily thrive on the banks of water features in mild regions. In ordinary soil, the florist's arum can be enhanced by lighter plants such as the blue flag iris, lady's mantle, or heucheras. A thick mulch placed over its crown will help it withstand winter. This perennial is often planted in large isolated clumps along a path or near an entrance. This plant, which doesn't like severe frost, can be grown in a large pot filled with fertile soil that can be easily stored in winter. Although its cultivation is quite delicate, the Ethiopian arum will reward you with the timeless beauty of its flowers, on the terrace in a pot or in the garden. As a cut flower, its traditional companions are lilies and white roses.