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Overview
Zantedeschia has had an enormous number of hybrids created in recent years, many of them relatively compact and featuring a huge array of fabulous colours.
It is an herbaceous, rhizomatous perennial with large, sometimes spotted green leaves and unusual, spathe-like flowers that appear in spring and summer that feature a prominent spadix.
In warm climates, like Australia they can be easily grown outdoors, while in cooler climates they make excellent indoor plants providing you can ensure they get regular, bright light.
Soil: They like moist, rich spoils with plenty of organic matter added like compost. Originating from the swamps of South Africa you will need to ensure they have regular access to water, so a layer of mulch will help retain it in warm weather.
Choose a sunny location, though a little shade throughout the day is well tolerated.
Maintenance: When they are actively growing you should keep them well watered and feed with a liquid formulation once a fortnight. However do not feed while in flower.
They are not frost hardy so ensure they are well protected in winter or you can dig them up and dry them out and store in a dry location, to re-plant again in springtime.
Diseases: None of note.
Invasiveness: It has escaped cultivation to become naturalised in many parts of the world including South Western Australia where it is known to clog up waterways and wetlands.
Toxicity: Arum lily contains a mineral called calcium oxalate. All parts of the plant, especially the flower, are poisonous to humans, livestock and pets and can cause:
- eczema and dermatitis
- irritation, burning and swelling of the mouth and throat
- breathing difficulties
- severe nausea, vomiting and stomach pain
- diarrhoea
- shock and exhaustion
- death in rare cases.
Other Species: There are six species in the Zantedeschia genus of tuberous perennials including Zantedeschia aethiopica
Zantedeschia odorata
Zantedeschia elliottiana
Zantedeschia jucunda
Zantedeschia pentlandii
Zantedeschia rehmanii
Comments: Named after Italian botanist Giovanni Zantedeschi (1773–1846).
Author: Bob Saunders.