Invasive in some states
This plant is assessed as invasive in parts of the US. It is not illegal, but consider a non-invasive alternative and check your local guidance before planting it.
Use with caution
All parts of calla lily contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals and are toxic to dogs, cats, horses, and people if chewed or eaten, causing intense burning and swelling of the mouth and throat, drooling, and vomiting; the sap can also irritate skin. Wear gloves when handling it and keep the plant and cut flowers away from pets and children.
White Giant Calla Lily
Zantedeschia aethiopica 'White Giant'
flowerWhite Giant is a large white calla lily, the elegant, sculptural flower of weddings and florists. Despite the name it is not a true lily but a rhizomatous perennial in the arum family, native to southern Africa, and its famous flower is actually a single, smooth, pure-white, funnel-shaped bract (a spathe) wrapped around a golden central spike. It is a giant selection that rises as much as four to seven feet on smooth stems above glossy, arrow-shaped leaves (taller in mild climates where it does not die back hard), blooming in early summer, and is unusual among callas in loving moisture - it thrives in constantly moist or even boggy ground and at the edge of a pond. Hardy only in mild climates, it is grown elsewhere as a container plant or summer bulb and a superb, long-lasting cut flower.
☀️
Sun
full sun
💧
Water
Every 4 days
🌸
Bloom
~70 days
📊
Difficulty
easy
🌱
Lifecycle
tender perennial
Perennial in warm zones; grown as an annual where winters freeze
↔️
Spacing
12-18 in. apart
⬇️
Planting Depth
Plant rhizomes 3-4 in. deep in spring
🧪
Soil pH
6.0-6.5
Growing Details
Soil Type
Rich, organic, consistently moist to wet
Hardiness Zones
Zones 8 – 10
When to Fertilize
At planting and monthly through the growing season
Fertilizer
Balanced fertilizer
🌱 Growing Guide
Grow this calla in full sun to part shade in rich, organic, consistently moist soil; uniquely among callas, Zantedeschia aethiopica loves wet ground and grows beautifully at the margin of a pond or in a bog, though ordinary moist garden soil suits it too. It is hardy in the ground in zones 8 to 10 (and can overwinter in zone 8 with a heavy mulch), where it may stay evergreen in mild winters. In colder zones, grow it in a pot or lift the rhizomes in fall and store them cool and dry, or treat it as an annual. Plant rhizomes about three to four inches deep. Keep it well watered and fed during growth; the main problem to avoid is rhizome rot, which strikes in cold, stagnant, poorly aerated wet soil rather than the clean moisture it enjoys.
🌼 Have a different variety?Cultivars of the same species usually share the same basic care, and they differ mainly in flower color, height, and bloom form, not in how you grow them. So this guide still applies even if your exact variety isn't the one shown.
Planting Calendar
Sign in to personalize →🌿
Direct sow
Apr 15
🌸
Projected first bloom
Jun 24
JJan
FFeb
MMar
AApr
MMay
JJun
JJul
AAug
SSep
OOct
NNov
DDec
✅ Plant alongside
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
- Astilbe: Shares the love of rich, constantly moist soil and adds feathery plumes beside the bold calla spathes
- Hosta: Bold foliage for the same moist, part-shaded ground around the calla
- Ferns: Thrive in the same damp conditions and soften the planting at the water edge
🛡️ Pest & disease prevention
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts. Tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Cluster on tender new growth and buds - rinse off with water and encourage ladybugs
Appear in hot dry air, mainly on stressed or indoor plants - keep it moist and rinse the foliage
Caused by cold, stagnant, airless wet soil - it likes clean moisture, not foul muck; ensure the wet soil is alive and aerated and lift rhizomes from cold soggy ground over winter
Turns rhizomes to mush - plant only firm, healthy rhizomes, avoid wounding them, and discard any soft, smelly tissue
🌸 Blooms & cutting
Calla lily is one of the great cut flowers - cut the long stems in the cool morning when the spathe has just unfurled, and the sculptural blooms last a week or more in the vase. In the garden, remove spent flowers and yellowing leaves to keep it tidy. In cold climates the seasonal task is overwintering: lift the rhizomes after the foliage dies down, dry and store them cool, or bring a potted plant indoors. Note that the sap and all parts are toxic, so wear gloves and keep cut stems away from pets.
🥗 Nutrition & benefits
An ornamental tender perennial grown for its elegant white spathes and as a premier long-lasting cut flower. It offers little to wildlife and every part is toxic, so its value is purely ornamental - handle with gloves and keep it away from pets.
⚠️ Toxicity & safety
All parts of calla lily contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals and are toxic to dogs, cats, horses, and people if chewed or eaten, causing intense burning and swelling of the mouth and throat, drooling, and vomiting; the sap can also irritate skin. Wear gloves when handling it and keep the plant and cut flowers away from pets and children.
For educational and informational purposes only. HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.