Zantedeschia elliottiana Selina - Calla Lily

The Selina florist's Arum, also known as Zantedeschia Selina, is a hybrid bulbous plant native to New Zealand. This recent variety has buttery yellow flowers (spathes) or cones delicately infused with reddish-orange on the edges, from the middle to the end of summer. Its dark foliage is speckled with white. It is a non-hardy tuberous plant that requires warmth and a very rich moist soil to thrive. Very beautiful in bouquets, at the edge of water features, or even in pots submerged in shallow water.

Zantedeschia Selina is one of the many hybrids that have been obtained by cross-breeding two main species native to eastern and southern Africa, namely Zantedeschia rehmannii and Zantedeschia elliottiana. 'Selina' is a stemless species with large sagittate dark green leaves speckled with transparent white. Of medium size, it measures about 60cm (24in) in height. Like other hybrids, this plant requires specific growing conditions to flower. The flower, a characteristic of Arums, produces a highly ornamental spathe, almost 10cm (4in) in diameter, hiding a golden yellow spadix at its centre. Its thick roots penetrate perpendicularly into the growing medium, which are fleshy and running rhizomes. In nature, this plant grows in marshes that usually dry up in summer, under year-round hot climates. The 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 Selina is particularly suitable for pot cultivation. It can also be planted in moist soil, near a water source, or even partially submerged during flowering.