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Flower Spotlight: Calla Lily

This month, we’re putting the spotlight on the calla lily! This gorgeous flower has become a staple of wedding season, but it’s a beautiful choice for any occasion. [Read more…]

Calla Lily: FSN’s Favorite Flower For November

Calla Lilies - Zantedeschia

The calla lily is one of the most beautiful and widely used flowers in the florist’s arsenal. Brides everywhere love the simple, yet elegant look of the calla lily and it has become a staple in wedding flowers. Keep reading for more about the calla lily with lots of great pics and ideas.

CALLA LILY/
ZANTEDESCHIA

Use: Flower

Type: Tuberous Perennials

Height: 12-36″

Name Meaning: Regal, Beauty

GROWING

Requirements: Humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil. Full sun to partial shade.

Makes a great houseplant.

DESIGNING

Blossom Size: 1-8″ tall

Texture: Waxy

Fragrance: None

Silhouette: Dense/Round

Vase Life: 7-10 Days

Colors: Large Variety

Bloom Season: Late Spring

Flowers Available: Year Round

ABOUT CALLA LILIES

What’s in a name? The calla lily is actually not a lily at all; nor is it a Calla. So how did this impostor get it’s name? What we think of as ‘calla lily’, actually refers to plants in the Zantedeschia genus, named after Italian botanist Giovanni Zantedeschi. These plants were once in the genus Calla but through advanced research it was later determined to not be closely related to other Callas. Other names for Zantedeschia are: calla lily, arum lily, trumpet lily, and pig lily.

The calla lily is native to South Africa and grows naturally in marshy areas. It will remain evergreen as long as conditions are right and only goes dormant when water is scarce. For being native to tropical regions, this plant is surprisingly very hardy and can stand fairly cold winters. The common, white Zantedeschia aethiopica, for instance, can survive winter temperatures as low as -9 °F.

Green Calla Lily Floral Design

CALLA LILY: A WEDDING FLOWER FAVORITE

Style and elegance make the calla lily a wedding favorite. Callas look fabulous with all wedding decor because of their unique, funnel shape which imitates a champagne flute.

Calla lily wedding flowers are perfect for any bride. Choose the giant, white calla (Zantedeschia aethiopica or Easter Lily) for sheath bridal bouquets. For the fun and funky bride, go with dark ‘black’ calla lilies (aka Schwartzwalder) paired with other unique flowers. Because of their unique shape, they are definite stars in any mixed bridal bouquet!

Rising in popularity are the green and orange calla lily wedding flowers. Many brides are springing for an all-green wedding bouquet and green callas couldn’t be a better fit.

Unique Yellow Calla Lily Bouquet Calla Lily Bridesmaid Bouquet

Callas are a true favorite for florists because of their unique properties. Calla lilies can be very sturdy and straight, perfect for emphasizing line in floral designs. When slightly dehydrated, they become incredibly flexible and are great for accentuating curves in floral arrangements.

Pink Calla Lilies In Floral Design

Floral designers aren’t the only ones to use the calla lily as their muse. Calla’s have been an inspiration to artists all over the world. Probably the most famous of these is Diego Rivera. He painted many vibrant scenes of flower vendors in Mexico harvesting calla lilies.

Diego Rivera Calla Lily

Contact your local florist today and send a calla lily arrangement to your someone special.

This post is brought to you by local Fargo, ND florists.
Not in Fargo? Use Flower Shop Network‘s handy directory to find YOUR real local florist!

My Calla Lilies Will Not Bloom?

Ask the Expert: I have a calla lilly that will not bloom
I have had this plaint for over 2 years also i have a peace lilly that wont bloom I had this palint for over 5 years they are both very health but wont bloom.  Kimberly

Reply:

It can take up to two year for a calla lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica) to produce blooms.  Of course, that all depends on how the nursery treated them before you got them.  We actually pot our calla lilies and make them bloom before we sell them to our customers.  At our nursery, we treat them with gibberellic acid which is a fungicide that also promotes plant growth and seems to stimulate the blooms.  However, this isn’t a product you can get over the counter. So it maybe that your calla lily was preparing itself for this year’s blooms.

Another factor that could be inhibiting blooms is the amount of sunlight the plants are receiving.  Calla lilies need at least 5 to 6 hours of direct sunlight or 10 hours of bright filtered light to bloom.  If your plants are in a very shady spot you need to move them to a sunnier area.  You might try fertilizing your calla lilies with a fertilizer high in phosphorous (p) the a couple of months before they bloom.  Try hi-yield bulb food which has a 7-8-5 (n-p-k) ratio or bone meal (0-10-0).   At the end of the season let the frost kill the foliage before you remove it.  Hopefully these suggestions will help and you’ll have lots of blooms this season.

Good luck and keep me posted

Calla Lilies Plant Now Or Wait Till Next Year?

Ask The Expert: I  grew  some  cali  lilies  this  past  summer  and  now  they  are  finished  blooming.  They  have  pods  on  them  now.  Is  there  something  I  should  do  to  keep  them  ready  to  replant  next  season.  When  will  be  the  best  time  to  replant  them.  Any  other  suggestions ?  Evelyn

Five Cool Flowers For Summer

There are many awesome flowers that make great additions to summertime flower arrangements. When it comes to creating an exquisite display for my tables, centerpieces, gardens and other home décor uses, I look to these fabulous blooms for an extra splash of cool during the summer months.

Hydrangeas in full bloom are gorgeous additions to the home or garden. The blossoms of hydrangeas provide a very distinctive and soft scent that no nose can resist. Hydrangea potted plants accentuate patios, walkways, gardens, tables, and other nooks in the home. These colorful and buxom plants draw attention to ignored areas with their attractive size and shape. Hydrangea wedding bouquets are also popular as summer wedding flowers. The shapely blooms of hydrangea plants create full and vivacious wedding bouquets. At the wedding reception, the full-bodied shape of hydrangea centerpieces lend a sense of balance to larger tables. Adding depth and dimension to flower arrangements or gardens, hydrangeas are a colorful and attractive way to enjoy the fresh, full summer months.

Hydrangea potted plant.jpg Tame the heat with potted hydrangea plants.

Calla lilies are other summer flowers that enhance wedding bouquets. Calla lily bouquets are easily recognized as their distinctive and beautiful appearance make them one of the most popular summer wedding flowers. Calla lilies are especially suited to certain bouquet shapes. Brides everywhere look to calla lily wedding bouquets to enhance gorgeous, long wedding gowns. Whether dancing at a summer wedding or simply drawing more attention to a listless centerpiece, calla lilies are perfect summer flowers for bringing light, beauty, and grace to the atmosphere of your home.

 


Burnt-sienna-calla-lilies-arrangement.jpg Colorful trumpeted calla lilies beautify any bridal bouquet!

Lilies are excellent seasonal flowers. Summer months see the lily at its finest with use in bridal bouquets, home décor, gardening, or fresh flower arrangements delivered to loved ones. One of the most popular types of summer flowers is the stargazer lily. This easily recognizable flower is popular for its unparalleled ability to add beauty and color to fresh flower bouquets. The brilliant star-shaped pink and white bloom matches the intensity of the summer months but with intense distinction rather than intense heat. Stargazer lilies definitely make a bold statement regardless of how it is chosen for display.


Stargazer-lilies.jpg Stunning stargazer lilies make incredible summer wedding flowers!

The birth month flower of August is gladiolus which is another fabulous flower for summertime bouquets. These flowers bloom all summer and are very popular in all most special occasion arrangements during the warm summer months. Looking at gladiolus, with just the right amount of brilliant color, helps tone down the intense heat of the summer and brings a more appealing cool to whatever room I’m in.


Orange-gladiolus.jpg

Glorious Gladiolus zest up any table!

Of the many flowers in season in summer, liatris should always be counted among the most distinctive types of summer flowers. Liatris stands tall and proud in fresh flower arrangements, drawing definite attention to the height and beauty of the bouquets. The bright purple bottlebrushes of the liatris quickly enhance plain-jane tables or gardens with a pop of stunning color. Summer wedding centerpieces also benefit from the fun and fancy appeal of the tall, colorful flowers.


Liatrus.jpg Fragrant Garden Liatris and Daisy Arrangement.jpg Use liatris to add height to your fragrant garden!

There are so many uses for these great summer flowers. Personally, I look forward to seeing the large hydrangea bushes outside of my home each day. The blue-purple blooms never fail to attract my attention. Looking out of my window each morning, I greet the day with a smile as my hydrangea plants greet me with color. In the process of planning a summer wedding for a friend, I definitely cannot overlook the versatility of lilies in our bridal bouquets. My friend being a huge fan of stargazer lilies, I’m sure her summer wedding will be a hit. Bringing gorgeous flowers inside is a job I leave to the others in the home but we are never failed by the wonderful summer blooming flowers.

Why Won’t My Calla Lily Bloom?

Ask the Expert: Cally Lilly Blooms

We have a Cally Lilly plant in our garden ( live in Northern Virginia) it’s growing great however no flowers. What’s the secret to get it to flower. it’s in full sun and is watered regularly.

thanks

George

Are Calla Lillies Available In September

Ask the expert:

I just had the quick question if I would be able to have cali lillies (sorry, not sure the exact spelling) in September.

Calla Lily Can It Make Your Wife Happy?

Last week I was eating lunch with my husband, when one of his co-workers asked me if I knew what stage of pregnancy his wife was in. I said “about 7 months”. He shook his head no and replied, “I can do nothing right and she complaints that she’s fat and ugly”. I told him to be patient and that I wished I could help.

Sunday I was gazing at my garden when it came to me. Flowers! Flowers always make me happy. Then I had a real epiphany when I saw the Calla Lilies in my garden. He needed to send his wife Callas and the card could say “the flower of beauty for the beauty in my life.”

When you look up Calla Lily under flower meanings, it means beauty. Not only does Calla mean beauty; it is the essence of beauty with its velvety blossom and solid silhouette. In flower arrangements, it can be used to create a straight or curved line. Calla Lilies are also used to create form in a flower arrangement. Bloom size can range from 1″ to 6″ with stems 8″ to 30″ long. Calla Lillies are like a confident girl — standing proud and tall by themselves or mixing harmoniously with other flowers. Most people assume Callas are white only, however they come in shades of red, yellow, green, pink, purple and orange as well. The most appealing quality that a Calla Lily has as a cut flower is it’s long shelf life. Calla Lilies will last for a couple of weeks in a flower arrangement if taken care of properly.

The next time someone you know needs a little beauty in their life send them a Calla Lily bouquet. I’m having a bad hair day … hmm… maybe I need a Calla Lily flower arrangement.
callasm.jpg calla lily calla1.jpg Calla lilies from my garden

Need Calla Lily Care & Handling Tips?

Nita Asks:

Do have “care and handling tips for calla lilies”? How well they hold in a bouquet? Do they turn brown tips quickly out of water?

Brock’s Reply: Callas should be prepped as any other flower as far as cut, and placed in water containing hydration and food solution. They do not like an extremely cold cooler. They have excellent vase life, but don’t hold as well in foam. When you mention bouquet, if you mean a wedding bouquet, they certainly will hold long enough for the wedding and other events. Most of the time they are just tied together as stems for bouquets. Callas will eventually turn brown on the tips. The key to using callas is to buy them very fresh or tight. You don’t want callas that have sat at the wholesale house for several days before you get them.