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Calla Lily

4.6 out of 5 (38 experiences)

Survivor

Large, lush leaves

About Calla Lily

The calla lily is a popular, elegant plant and not actually a lily at all! In fact, they’re more closely related to other houseplants like pothos and Monstera than actual lilies. The ‘flowers’ are also not flowers, but specialized leaves that protect the tiny blossoms on the stalk in the center. Their ‘flowers’ may last as long as two months and they will continue to rebloom over time in the right conditions.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Zantedeschia aethiopica

Genus

Zantedeschia

Family

Araceae

Order

Alismatales

How to care for Calla Lily

💦 Water

How often to water your Calla Lily

Calla Lily needs 0.5 cups of water every 7 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
7

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Calla Lily in your home

Calla Lily may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.

Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Calla Lily in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Calla Lily

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Calla Lily: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Calla Lily after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #CallaLily

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Calla Lily is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!

How to Grow Calla Lily →

Common Calla Lily Problems →

Indoor Care Guide for Calla Lily →

Outdoor Care Guide for Calla Lily →

💦 Water Needs

Calla Lily prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Calla Lily Water Frequency →

Calla Lily Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Calla Lily requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Calla Lily is extremely dangerous if consumed. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian immediately. Calla Lily is not recommended for homes with children, cats, or dogs.

Is Calla Lily Edible? →

Calla Lily Toxicity to Cats →

Calla Lily Toxicity to Dogs →

Calla Lily Toxicity to Humans →

💨 Humidity

Calla Lily prefers dry environments. Providing extra humidity or misting your plant allows water to linger on leaves, which can create the perfect environment for harmful types of fungi.

🪴 Soil

Calla Lily is very sensitive to dry soil, so choose a potting soil that retains moisture. A good soil will still drain well and contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir or sphagnum moss.

Best Pots for Calla Lily →

What Are Healthy Calla Lily Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Calla Lily should be repotted after it doubles in size or once a year, whichever comes first. Fresh potting soil has all the nutrients your plant needs, so as long as it’s refreshed yearly, you shouldn’t need to use fertilizer. Remember, plants get their energy from sunlight, not fertilizer!

🌎 Native Region

Calla Lily is native to southern Africa.

🌸 Flowers

Yes, you may see your Calla Lily bloom with the right amount of sunlight and water.

Is Calla Lily an Annual Plant? →

Is Calla Lily a Perennial Plant? →

Calla Lily Pollination Guide →

Common Calla Lily Flower Problems →

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Calla Lily is a clumping plant, meaning new growth will emerge from the soil around the parent plant.

Calla Lily Lifecycle →

Calla Lily Size Guide →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Calla Lily can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 8a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Calla Lily Temperature Tolerance →

Calla Lily Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Calla Lily →

When to Plant Calla Lily →

How to Plant Calla Lily →

Where to Plant Calla Lily →

Winter Care for Calla Lily →

Best Companion Plants for Calla Lily →

Is Calla Lily a Weed? →

🌱 Propagation

Calla Lily can be propagated by division into new individual plants.

Check to see if there is more than one plant. In some cases they may still be beneath the soil surface. If you feel confident, you may remove the soil to check for baby plantlets below!
If there are multiple plants growing, unpot the plant and gently tug the plants apart, being careful not to disturb too many of the roots. They may be connected by large root segments which you may need to break to free the plantlet.
Pot up the new plant in well-draining soil
Repot the parent plant back into its original pot

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Calla Lily, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.

Common Bugs Affecting Calla Lily →

What Eats Calla Lily? →

Care Summary for Calla Lily

Calla Lily

Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 7 days

Placement

< 3ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say

Survivor 18

Large, lush leaves 17

Fast grower 13

Blooms easily 13

Easy to propagate 8

Browns easily 3

@@SpootyEh

5 Plants

161 XP

Hamilton, Waikato

12/11/2021

This beauty re-seeds every year and grows beautifully. I never have to worry about it. When it dies off for the winter I just make sure to keep weeds out of it so it has a chance to grow again in spring

Fast grower

Blooms easily

Survivor