Zantedeschia elliottiana Captain Fuego - Calla Lily

The Arum or Calla 'Captain Fuego', also known as Zantedeschia, is a unique variety with bright orange spathes with golden yellow reverses, washed with varying degrees of red! It is a stemless tuberous perennial that produces a clump of large sagittate leaves, green with white markings. The flowers appear between the months of July and October and last a long time when cut. This plant requires a light, rich, and moist soil, as well as a bright but not scorching exposure. It can tolerate temporary drought and is mainly grown in pots for easier wintering.

Zantedeschia 'Captain Fuego' is one of the many hybrids obtained by cross-breeding two main species native to Eastern and Southern Africa, Zantedeschia rehmannii and Zantedeschia elliottiana. 'Captain Fuego' is a stemless species with large sagittate leaves, dark green heavily speckled with transparent white. It is of medium size, measuring approximately 45cm (18in) in height and 20cm (8in) in spread. Like other hybrids, this plant requires specific growing conditions to flower. The flower, typical of Arums, produces a highly ornamental spathe, almost 10cm (4in) in diameter, concealing a golden yellow spadix at its centre. Its thick roots penetrate perpendicularly into the growing medium, resembling fleshy and trailing rhizomes. In nature, this plant grows in marshes that generally dry up in summer, under warm year-round climates. Vegetation dries up, and the tuber enters a period of dormancy. This vegetative cycle must be strictly respected in cultivation. Florist's arums can live for many years if the cyclic rest period is well respected.

Zantedeschia 'Captain Fuego' is particularly suited for container cultivation as long as it receives regular watering. It can also be grown in moist soil, near a water source, or even partially submerged, in less than 20cm (8in) of water during summer. Its exotic appearance blends beautifully with large ferns, sedges, and creeping Lysimachias in a lush and humid environment. In regions with cooler climates, dig up the rhizomes and store them dry at 10 ºC before replanting them in the next spring. Otherwise, mulch with a minimum of 10cm (4in).