Coloured Zantedeschia calla lilies flowering in a sunny South African garden

Growing Calla Lilies in South Africa: Zantedeschia Care

Coloured calla lilies bring elegant spathes and long stems to sunny borders and roomy pots. Start dormant Zantedeschia rhizomes correctly, keep them evenly moist while growing, and give them a dry, frost-free rest once foliage fades.

Quick grow facts

Identity: coloured Zantedeschia hybrid, not a true lily
Growth form: rhizome
Position: sun in cool sites; light afternoon shade in hot sites
Growing soil: fertile, moisture-retentive but free-draining

Important distinction

These coloured hybrids are not the white arum lily grown as a pond-margin plant. They need regular moisture while active but must not sit waterlogged, especially while dormant.

Planting dormant rhizomes

Start dormant rhizomes in a pot just wider than the rhizome, with drainage holes and fresh peat-free, loam-based potting mix.
Set the shoot buds uppermost, near the surface, with the top of the rhizome just showing. Keep this near-surface placement when starting the dormant rhizome in its pot.
Place in a warm, bright position and water sparingly until shoots appear. Rhizomes can rot if the mix is kept wet before growth.
Once growing strongly, harden plants off before outdoor planting after frost danger. Plant an established container-grown plant at the same depth it was growing in its pot, about 30 cm from the next small tender calla.

South African climate and ongoing care

Frost-prone interior

Keep tender rhizomes frost-free and only move growing plants out after frost danger. Protect or lift before severe cold.

Hot, dry interior

Morning sun and light afternoon shade protect flowers. Water deeply during active growth when the root zone starts to dry.

Winter-rainfall Cape

Use raised beds or containers with clear drainage; do not keep dormant rhizomes wet through cool rainy weather.

Humid coast and KZN Midlands

Give plants space and airflow, water soil early in the day and remove diseased material promptly.

Flowers, feeding and dormancy

Water regularly only while plants are in full growth and feed lightly through the flowering period. Remove fading flower stems at their base. Keep green leaves until they yellow naturally; then stop feeding, reduce water to little or none, and keep dormant rhizomes dry and frost-free. Containers must drain freely and should never stand in water.

Troubleshooting and safety

Rot or collapsing shoots: excess water before emergence, poor drainage or a damaged rhizome. Use a free-draining mix and water sparingly until growth.

Scorched leaves or short flowers: harsh afternoon heat. Give light shade in hot sites.

Few flowers: crowding, shade or too much nitrogen. Improve light and feed lightly only while active.

Safety: Zantedeschia contains irritating calcium oxalate. Do not chew or eat any part; keep plants away from children and pets and wear gloves if sap irritates skin.