Zantedeschia elliottiana Captain Murano - Calla Lily

The Arum or Calla 'Captain Murano', also known as Zantedeschia, is a variety with very warm colours. Its tuft of large dark green sagittate leaves, lightly punctuated with transparent white carries floral stems of about 50cm (20in) with flowers with dark orange spathes strongly tinged with carmine red! Numerous and well-held, use them to create refined bouquets. This stemless perennial requires bright locations, without scorching sun in well-drained, light, fresh and rich soil. Very floriferous, it is perfect at the edge of a water feature in the presence of foliage plants. It is also well-suited for container gardening, which should simply be brought indoors during the winter to protect from frost.

Zantedeschia 'Captain Murano' is one of the many hybrids that have been obtained by cross-breeding between two main species native to Eastern and Southern Africa, Zantedeschia rehmannii and Zantedeschia elliottiana. 'Captain Murano' is a stemless species with large sagittate leaves, dark green marbled with transparent white. Rather tall, it measures about 60cm (24in) in height and 40cm (16in) in width. Like other hybrids, this plant requires specific growing conditions to flower. The flower, characteristic of arums, produces a highly ornamental spathe, nearly 10cm (4in) in diameter, hiding a golden yellow spadix in its centre. Its thick roots penetrate perpendicularly into the growing medium, resembling fleshy and trailing rhizomes. In nature, this plant grows in marshes that usually dry up in summer, under hot climates all year round. The vegetation dries up, and the tuber enters a dormant period. This vegetative cycle must be strictly respected in cultivation. Florist's arums can live for many years if the cyclical resting period is well respected.

Zantedeschia 'Captain Murano' is particularly suitable for container gardening as long as it receives regular watering. It can also be planted in moist areas, near a water feature, or even partially submerged, in less than 20cm (8in) of water in summer. Its exotic-looking foliage will beautifully accompany large ferns, sedges, and creeping Lysimachias in a humid and lush environment. Outside of mild climate regions, dig up the rhizomes and store them dry at 10 °C before replanting them next spring. Otherwise, mulch them with a minimum of 10 to 20cm (4 to 8in) of material.