Calla Lily

Since the days of ancient Rome the Calla Lily has been treasured as a flower of celebration. First cherished as a celebration of light, then a funeral flower, in today’s world the Calla Lily has become one of the most desired flowers brides use to celebrate their wedding day. It is associated with the lily as a symbol of purity and as such, these spectacular flowers are beginning to rival the rose in popularity for bridal bouquets. The Calla Lily, originally from the continent of Africa, is rich with history, and it is an elegant and colorful flower to enjoy on any occasion. Either as a cut flower, or in your garden, the Calla Lily’s bloom is a show-stopper, and its wide range of colors make it a special flower to enjoy.

The Calla Lily, Zantedeschia aethiopica, is often called the white or common arum lily. Although most often referred to as Calla “Lily,” the calla is not related to true lilies (genus Lilium) or to the lily family. The Calla is an arum and closely related to houseplants such as the philodendron, spathiphyllum, pothos, monstera, and caladium. In the wild, the Calla Lily prefers marshy areas. One of its closest relatives is the Skunk Cabbage, which also prefers a marsh environment, and is one of the most abundant and earliest-blooming northern wildflowers. Some varieties of Calla Lilies are fragrant, though thankfully, they do not share the pungent odor of the Skunk Cabbage!

Most Calla Lilies have colorful spathes, which is a modified leaf; what we think of as the flower petal. The central spike or spadix is the real flower! The stalks are like giant celery stalks and the leaves are heart-shaped and have a luscious, dark green color that may sometimes be speckled. The common Calla Lily usually spire to 3 feet and produce snowy white spathes 4 to 6 inches across with yellow centers. Other callas are generally somewhat smaller, varying from 1 to 2 feet in height. The small Calla Lilies are called Minis.
Overview
Calla lilies have been cultivated and used for decorative and symbolic purposes since ancient Roman times. Calla lily flower are beautiful on the plant and survive very well as cut flowers. From their origins in Africa, calla lilies now have worldwide appeal.
Origins
The calla lily originated between South Africa and Malawi. This area is tropical with stable temperatures, predictable rainy and dry seasons, and is warm enough so plants don't suffer from frosts and freezing temperatures.

Whether you will be in need of wedding flowers or sympathy flowers in the near future, a bouquet of fresh Calla Lilies in your home or office can brighten anyone’s day. The ancient Romans knew it as a special flower and appreciated it. Today, as it did for the Romans, the Calla Lily is a thing of timeless beauty that excels in celebration of weddings, sympathy or to bring light into one’s life and celebrate the joy of living.