I remember when I thought calla lilies liked shade. This bed get sun all day long. They love it!

Calla lilies are native to South Africa and thrive on the hottest days of summer. Since they are only hardy in zones 9-11 they must be grown as summer bulbs in Iowa. I plant them directly into the garden after all danger of frost has passed. They need to be planted shallow just 2 or 3" deep. They grow well in full sun or part shade. They like moist soil & will grow in shallow water but they must be up & growing before they are put into the pond or they will rot. They add interesting shape / structure in the pond or in the garden with their long arrow or lance shaped leaves reaching up to 30" tall. Some leaves are wonderfully splattered with white, some are just dark green & not mottled. The foliage persists throughout the growing season. Of course, the flower is mysteriously awesome almost beyond words. ("The flowers are borne on a fleshy spadix and are rather insignificant. The showy petal-like spathe that surrounds the flowers is the real beauty, and is often recurved towards the top. Colors range from white, yellow, pink, reds, and salmon.") There's the large pristine white & an array of other colors ranging from the darkest maroon to the lightest pinks & limey greens. I love them all. And since I don't keep track of what's what & who's who, it's always a fun surprise when they bloom. I can't stop looking at them!

Large seed heads are formed. They remind me of an alien pineapple or something or other. They become quite heavy & bend the stem to the ground. I've thrown them in the compost pile & on occasion discover baby calla lilies emerging in amended growing areas. It's fun!

I don't fertilize mine but it is recommended to feed them biweekly with a balanced fertilizer. That would never get done here unless I hire a garden helper!

The rhizomes need to be dug & stored over winter. They are very easy to dig & well worth the effort. I have just dug them up, gently broken off the roots, cleaned the excess dirt off & stored them in a cardboard box lined with newspaper over the winter. It is recommended to store them in peatmoss or sand in a dark, cool, dry place.

Calla lilies always get allot of attention & questions from garden guests. They are so exotic looking that it's hard to believe they are so easy to grow. They seem to love the clay soil in my gardens too. I think it retains the moisture that they love.

www.flowersbulbs.com/gardencallainfo.cfm
www.bloomz.co.nz/crop_information_zantedeschia/