Sunday, February 22, 2009

Elegant Calla Lily

This tall elegant calla lily (zantedeschia) caught my attention the other day. I had forgot that we put them in this spot last spring, although the beautiful sword shaped leaves where there all summer in the dappled shade. They grow quite easily in our area as long as they are in a shady spot that doesn't dry out too much. The tall flowers are wonderful for cutting and bloom in the early spring for a few months. They are actually a tuber, but I have always planted them from one gallon pots which you can pick up anywhere. They send up lots of babies and can fill in damp shady spots quickly.

Although calla lilies were associated with death during the early part of last century, they have recently come into their own for what they are, a lovely, elegant bloom. My beautiful daughter-in-law carried a bunch of them for her wedding bouquet a few years ago.

6 comments:

CiNdEe's GaRdEn said...

I enjoy the callas when they are blooming. It is easy to forget they are there when they are not blooming because their foliage just kinda blends in(-: Mine freeze to the ground in the winter.

Anonymous said...

How marvelous to have them growing in the garden Sheila. I have to use them as container plants here ~ much too cold to overwinter (or at least that's been my experience). I think the blooms are very elegant too.

Anonymous said...

They sell a bunch of them around here at Easter. Yours looks very stately standing up tall and beautiful.

Kerri said...

I've been enjoying your photos of your beautiful CA garden. You grow many of the plants my mother grew in Australia where I grew up. She grew callas and I've always loved them. I should try them here in a container.
Thanks for visiting and saying hello :)

Anonymous said...

So beautiful! I haven't just loved callas but I think it's because we grow them in containers and they struggle and look pretty terrible most of the time. In the ground I think it's probably a different plant altogether (and one that now I covet).

My Mother's Garden said...

I love your Calla Lily! So elegant and graceful.

Thanks for visiting my mystery plant post. The flower has been identified, it's a Clarkia.I hope to harvest lots of seeds from it this year.

Have a good day~
Karrita