Zantedeschia aethiopica

PlantFile Report Copyright © 2000 - 2025 Peter Kirkland - www.plantfile.com Plant Profile
Plant
ID 86 Zantedeschia aethiopica
Botanic Name Zantedeschia aethiopica
Common Name White Arum Lily, Green Goddess, Calla Lilly
Family Name Araceae
Cultivars 'Crowborough', 'Green Goddess', 'Childsiana'
Origin South Africa, Zone 8-11
Growth Type Perennial
Bark Type Stemless / Acaulescent
Foliage Type Herbacious Water Use High
No. of Species 3
Growth Habit Clumping Growth Rate Fast
Height 0.8 - 1 m (3 - 3 ft) Spread 0.7 m (2 ft)
Plant Overview
This upright rhizomatous perennial forms a clump with erect foliage and flowers. It has dark green arrow shaped leaves that arise from the base and the white spadix has a yellow centre and appears above foliage from spring to early summer.
Leaf
Type Simple Additional Information
Shape Cordate
The large cordate leaves have a soft leathery texture with pinnate venation and are up to 800 mm (31 ½ in) long. The apex is acuminate and the base is sagittate with a long fleshy petiole. It has undulating entire margins, underside strongly keeled.
Arrangement Basal
Margin Entire
Colour Green
Size 400 - 800 mm ( 15.7 - 31.5 in )
Flower
Perfume Odorless Additional Information
Shape
The white spathes have a central yellowish spadix and are held high above the foliage on a fleshy scape appearing during spring. Cultivars are white suffused green up to two thirds to the tip.
Inflorescence Spadix
Colour White
Size 300 - 400 mm ( 11.8 - 15.7 in )
Flowering in
(Southern Hemisphere)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Fruit
Type Berry Additional Information
Colour Yellow
The green to yellow berries are arranged densely in a spike. The small seeds are viable but the plant is commonly reproduced vegetatively to maintain true to type.
Edible No
Bird Attractive No
Size 3 - 5 mm ( 0.1 - 0.2 in )
Fruiting in
(Southern Hemisphere)
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Environment & Cultivation
Natural Soil Well drained to wet, sandy to silty soils, organic rich, pH 5.5 to 7.0
Container Pots, tubs, planter boxes, under glass in frost prone or cold climates
Climate Warm temperate
Aspect Partial shade to full sun, frost and drought tender
Pest & Diseases Soft rot, crown rot, leaf spot, root rot, caterpillars, thrips, millipedes
Fertiliser Mulch during spring, water well during dry periods
Pruning Not necessary, remove dead folage, division of the clump to contain
Cultural Uses Propagation
The White Arum Lily is grown for its flowers and clumping habit. It is grown in small or tropical gardens along perennial borders or planted around a water feature. It is suitable for coastal regions establishing from division in one season.
To divide lift rhizomes during autumn and then divide. Replant during early spring when shoots appear. When planting out space 45 mm to 600 mm (2 ft) for group plantings. Sow seeds when ripe in a well-drained media, keep moist.
© 2025 PlantFileonline. All Rights Reserved.
Designed and Developed by Tatvasoft Australia