By Micah Shanks

The stately calla lily is in bloom right now, and oh, what a show! A favorite of florists and brides, who often carry a single lily in lieu of a bouquet; it is also a favorite in the garden. Calla comes from the Greek word meaning beautiful. The elegant clean lines of the popular pure white calla lily made it a special choice for artist Georgia O’Keefe. Her painting, simply titled “White Calla Lily,” recently sold at Sotheby’s for close to $9 million. Fortunately, we can enjoy calla lilies in our area for much less. Also known as arum lily, trumpet lily, pig lily or miniature calla lily, this native of South Africa is not really a true lily at all.

Although the white calla is the most recognizable, they are also available in green, pink, purple, yellow and orange. They are good candidates for houseplants as well as in the garden and/or containers. The actual flower, or inflorescence, is a leaf- like curved bract known as a spathe. The spike in the middle, which attracts bumblebees for the pollen, is called a spadix, and the dark green leaves have the appearance of arrowheads.

Calla lilies are grown from bulbs or rhizomes and need be planted at least 4 inches deep and 12 inches apart. At maturity, a plant can be up to 1 ½ feet in diameter and up to 3 feet tall. Always keep the mature size of any plant in mind when choosing a location. The roots of the calla lily are poisonous, so keep caution if planting around children and animals.

Apply a good bulb fertilizer each month during the active growing season. After they have bloomed, back off on feeding and watering for a few months to let them rest. Let the leaves die back on their own. Don’t be disappointed if your calla lily doesn’t bloom each year. I have a calla lily that I got from my grandmother in Oklahoma many years ago. Every year, the plant puts on leaves and looks healthy, but I have not had many blooms. This year, I have one perfect pure white specimen on a 2 ft. stalk! Many times I thought about digging it up but always decided to give it one more year. I’m so glad I did!

For more information, contact Micah Shanks, Jefferson County Master Gardener, mshanks52@gmail.com, or call Texas A & M AgriLife Extension at 409-835-8461.