Zantedeschia

Zantedeschia, which is also known as calla or arum lily, was named in honour of Italian botanist Giovanni Zantedeschi by the German botanist Kurt Sprengel.

Description
The zantedeschia can grow from 1 to 2.5m tall and its leaves will reach between 15 and 45cm long. Typically, it has white-spotted leaves and flowers in yellow, pale cream, terracotta orange, dark purple-black and various pink tones. Flowers bloom anywhere between 2-6 weeks.

Habitat
The zantedeschia can be found in Africa (South Africa to Malawi), in wetland areas such as marshes. It is a relatively hardy plant, with some forms able to survive in cold climates as low as -23 degrees Celsius.

Availability
Various forms of zantedeschia are available all year round throughout the world. It is produced in large volumes in California, Colombia, Western Australia, New Zealand and Kenya.

Species
Zantedeschia is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants in the family Araceae. There are seven types of zantedeschia (Z.): Z. aethiopica, Z. albomaculata, Z. elliotiana and Z. rehmannii, with the three rarest species being Z. odorata, Z. jucunda and Z. pentlandi.

Care Tips
All types of zantedeschia are particularly hardy plants that require minimal maintenance. They can be planted in soil or shallow water and can be placed in full sunlight or shaded areas. Take care when moving or arranging the flowers, as the petals are delicate and very easily bruised. Parts of the plant are poisonous and can irritate the mouth and throat and induce vomiting. Keep pets and children away from them and make sure that no parts of the plant are ever ingested.

Did You Know?
The plant can be seen in paintings by the Mexican artist Diego Rivera.

References
http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?PID=177
http://www.kew.org/plants-fungi/Zantedeschia-aethiopica.htm