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The Daily Insight

What do calla lilies look like

Author

Jessica Wood

Published May 24, 2026

The plants grow from a rhizome, similar to a bulb, much like irises. Calla lilies grow to about 30 inches in height, and the flowers are shaped in the form of a funnel. While the white flowers are the most fragrant, calla lilies also come in pink, red and yellow.

Do calla lilies come back every year?

Many people treat their gift calla lilies as annuals. They receive a potted flower, or buy them for spring decorating, and then toss it when the blooms are done. In truth, though, calla lilies are perennials and you can actually save your potted plant and watch it bloom again next year.

What do calla lilies symbolize?

On the one hand, calla lily meaning expresses the idea of life and fertility, while on the other it’s a well-known symbol of death. One early calla lily meaning originates in ancient Greek culture, where the flower was thought to represent magnificent beauty.

Are calla lilies indoor or outdoor plants?

Although not considered true lilies, the calla lily (Zantedeschia sp.) is an extraordinary flower. This beautiful plant, available in a multitude of colors, grows from rhizomes and is ideal for use in beds and borders. You can also grow calla lilies in containers, either outdoors or in a sunny window as houseplants.

How long do calla lily plants last?

In the appropriate climate, calla lilies can live all year round. For proper calla lily care, the plant should be allowed to die back for about two months every year. This will allow for the flowers to rest and come back with even better blooms in the next growing season.

Do calla lilies need full sun?

Shade and Sun: In warm climates, calla lilies grow well in full sun or partial shade. In cooler areas they grow best in full sun. Zone: Calla lilies are winter hardy in zones 8-10. In colder areas they can either be grown as annuals or can be dug up in the fall and stored indoors for replanting the next spring.

Will calla lilies spread?

The calla lilies as most other bulbs, spread by producing even more bulbs. These bulbs can be dug up, and replanted in another location. In tropical climates (zones 8-10), calla lilies can be left in the ground over winter without trouble.

What is the difference between canna and calla lilies?

Cannas grow anywhere between 1 1/2 and 8 feet tall with a spread of up to 6 feet, whereas callas are generally more restrained, growing to only 2 or 3 feet with a 2-foot spread. Canna and calla leaves bear some resemblance to one another in that they are both long and wide, tapering at one end.

Do calla lilies do well in pots?

Pots for calla lilies should be at least 10 to 12 inches (25-31 cm.) in diameter and well-draining. While calla lilies need consistently moist soil, improper drainage can cause rots and fungal diseases. The planting medium should also retain moisture but not stay too soggy.

What months do calla lilies bloom?

The plant usually blooms for about six weeks during the late spring and early summer. Keeping the plant potbound encourages more blooms. Calla Lilies may be forced into bloom at any time indoors; it all depends on when the bulbs become available and when they are planted.

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Are calla lilies expensive?

“Small bouquets, depending on large calla lilies versus miniature calla lilies, can range from $45-$65, approximately $5-$8 per stem,” shares Kline. “Larger bouquets can cost $180 or more, depending on the design and number of stems.”

Do calla lilies smell good?

Calla Lilies: My favorite calla lilies are of course the smoldering, mysterious near-black variety (because I love black plants) but all callas are graceful, dramatic, and free of scent. … A lush arrangement, with no scent!

Are calla lilies toxic?

Why Are Calla Lilies Toxic? Calla lilies contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that are similar to other plants in the Araceae family. … Though poisoning is rare, eating and swallowing any part of the calla lily plant will almost certainly result in a rather unpleasant experience.

Do calla lilies bloom all summer?

The bulb-like structure of calla lilies grows well in a planter or in the ground in warm weather. … If left in the ground, the plants are considered annuals because the roots will die when frozen. The flowers bloom in the late spring and throughout the summer.

Can you deadhead calla lilies?

Unlike many other flowers, calla lily deadheading won’t cause the plant to create more blossoms. Each calla is designed to create a certain number of flowers, sometimes one or two and other times as many as six. Once those blooms have died off, the plant will only show foliage until the following spring.

What do you do with calla lilies after they bloom?

After the calla lily has stopped flowering, stop watering it and let the soil go dry. The foliage will wilt, and the plant will seem dead. Store it in a cool dark place for about two months. Afterward, reinstate it into the light and carry on watering it.

Can I plant calla lilies in the ground?

Planting Your Calla Lilies Calla rhizomes should be planted in spring. They may be started indoors as early as a month before the average last frost date (for earlier blooms) or planted directly in the ground after the danger of frost has passed.

Can I plant calla lilies with other plants?

Good companion plants for perennial calla lilies planted in the woodland garden include ferns, astilbes, hostas, ligularias and impatiens. In a container, annual calla lilies combine well with petunias, dusty miller, allysum, creeping jenny, heliotrope or dichondra.

What do calla lilies attract?

Calla Lilies thrive in a variety of growing conditions, tolerating sandy and clay soil. They are deer resistant and thrive in containers, making them the perfect statement for a small-space garden or patio. The unique, elegant blooms also attract Hummingbirds and Butterflies to the garden.

How long will a potted calla lily last?

Expect potted callas to bloom for three to nine weeks, depending on their variety and growing conditions.

How do you keep calla lilies blooming?

Place it in a cool (not cold) dark place for two months. After this, bring it back out into the light and resume watering it. The foliage will regrow and you calla lily plant will start to bloom shortly thereafter.

Can you grow calla lilies indoors?

Calla Lily as a Houseplant Keep your indoor calla lilies continually moist and never allow them to dry out. You can even keep a little water in the saucer that it sits in but be sure that it doesn’t sit in standing water for too long. … Calla lilies inside prefer temperatures between 65 degrees F. (18 C.)

How do you take care of a potted calla lily plant?

  1. Keep the soil moist, but not soggy.
  2. Provide bright, indirect light.
  3. Apply liquid fertilizer monthly while in flower.
  4. Keep away from heating and ac vents.
  5. Reduce watering when the plant enters dormancy (November)
  6. Cut the leaves off at soil level once they’ve died.

How cold can calla lilies tolerate?

In warmer areas, calla lilies are evergreen, but where winter temperatures drop below freezing, they are deciduous. The plants are damaged when temperatures fall below 25 degrees Fahrenheit.

How do you take care of potted calla lilies in the winter?

Calla lilies will overwinter outdoors in Zones 9-11, but in most places they need to overwinter indoors. If you’ve grown the plants in pots, you can simply move the pots inside to a dark location for the winter without having to dig at all. Just repot them in fresh soil in spring.

Do calla lilies come in different sizes?

There are many different calla lily types and varieties, with a range of heights between about one and three feet (0.5 to 1 meter), and many choices for brilliant colors: ‘Acapulco Gold’ – For the sunniest yellow calla lily, choose this variety. ‘Acapulco gold’ produces large blooms that are bright yellow.

Are peace lilies and calla lilies the same?

Peace lilies are not technically lilies, but they come from the same family as the beautiful calla-lily, which features a similar bloom. This tropical plant can be grown outdoors in the right climate but it’s commonly grown as a houseplant.

Are calla lilies Evergreen?

Zantedeschia aethiopica (Calla Lily) is an herbaceous or semi-evergreen perennial boasting magnificent, large, pure white, trumpet-shaped flowers (spathes) adorned with a yellow finger-like spadix. They stand out against the long-stalked, arrowhead-shaped, dark glossy green leaves.

What do canna lilies look like?

The canna lily plant is a rhizomatous perennial with tropical-like foliage and large flowers that resemble that of iris. … The flower color may be red, orange, or yellow. Depending on the variety, foliage color varies from green to maroon, bronze, and variegated types.

How much is a bunch of calla lilies?

You can buy wholesale calla lily in orders of 35, 50, or even 100 stems, and a single lily costs $1.60 and can go as high as $2.00.

How many calla lilies come in a bunch?

Stems/Bunch:5Flowers/Stem:1Size:20″-30″ stems with 3″- 4″ flowersAvailability:January-DecemberVase Life:4-7 days