white arum lily, common arum lily

Description

General aspect and origins - Zantedeschia aethiopica is also known as florist calla, white arum lily or common arum lily. It belongs to a genus with 6 species that are native to swampy areas of South Africa. As a matter of facts, this plant is often sold as a pond plant. But it can be grown in containers or in moist soils.
Leaves - Leaves are entire, arrow head shaped, glossy dark-green. The foliage is evergreen in frost-free climates, but will disapear in winter in colder zones.
Flowers - The inflorescence is made of a spadix (the yellow central column that contains many tiny male and female flowers) and a white spathe. Flowers appear mainly in summer.

Culture

Z. aethiopica is a species which is reported to be frost-hardy down to about 14-22°F (-6 to -10°C), depending on the growing conditions. In USDA zones 8-9a, this species can be tried with a good winter protection. In warmer zones, this plant can be reliably grown outdoors.

There are many cultivars, including:

Z. aethiopica 'Apple Court Babe' - a small cultivar, about 2 ft (60 cm) tall.

Z. aethiopica 'Caerwent' - Wider flowers, and hardier than the type.

Z. aethiopica 'Childsiana' - A dwarf cultivar that will grow up to 1 ft (30 cm) tall. A good container plant.

Z. aethiopica 'Childsiana Lisa'

Z. aethiopica 'Compacta' - A smaller selection than the type, about 1.5-2 ft (45-60 cm) tall. A good container plant.

Z. aethiopica 'Crowborough' - Widely grown, as this selection has wider flowers and is hardier than the type.

Z. aethiopica 'Gigantea'

Z. aethiopica 'Glow' - A selection of Z. aethiopica 'Crowborough', with a white and pale-pink spathe.

Z. aethiopica 'Green Goddess' - Wide flowers with hints of green.

Z. aethiopica 'Little Gem' - Like 'Childsiana', but with wider spathes.

Z. aethiopica 'Marshmallow' - A very faint pink spathe, with a pink core.

Z. aethiopica 'Mr Martin'

Z. aethiopica 'Mr Sam'

Z. aethiopica 'Perle de Stuttgart' - A free-flowering cultivar.

Z. aethiopica 'Pershore Fantasia' - With variegated leaves.

Z. aethiopica 'Pink Flowered' - pink spathes.

Z. aethiopica 'Snow White'

Z. aethiopica 'Tiny Tim'

Z. aethiopica 'Whipped Cream'

Z. aethiopica 'White Gnome'

Z. aethiopica 'White Mischief'

Z. aethiopica 'White Sail' - Flowers are pure white and smaller than the type.

Soil - This plant likes moist and fertile soils. In a pond, this plant can be grown into water with a depth of about 2 in. (5 cm)

Propagation

This plant can be propagated by seeds or root division. Both operations are generally performed in spring.

Pictures of Zantedeschia aethiopica