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Zantedeschia aethiopica

arum lily

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  • Other common names arum lily
    African lily

    altar lily
    calla lily
    Egyptian lily
    lily of the Nile
    richardia
    trumpet lily
    white arum lily

    see more

  • Synonyms Brosimum aethiopica
    Calla aethiopica

  • Family Araceae

  • Genus Zantedeschia can be deciduous or semi-evergreen, tuberous perennials with lance-shaped or arrow-shaped leaves and tiny yellow flowers forming a dense spike-like spadix, with a showy, hood-like spathe, sometimes followed by orange berry-like fruits

  • Details a clump-forming herbaceous or semi-evergreen perennial with erect, long-stalked, dark glossy green, arrow-shaped leaves to 40cm in length and funnel-shaped white spathes to 25cm in length, with yellow spadices

  • Plant range S Africa, Lesotho

Characteristics

  • Foliage Deciduous

  • Habit Clump-forming

  • Toxicity All parts may cause severe discomfort if ingested. The sap may irritate skin and eyes. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling

  • Hardiness

    Hardiness ratings

    All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

    • H1a - Under glass all year (>15C)
    • H1b - Can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
    • H1c - Can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
    • H2 - Tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
    • H3 - Hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
    • H4 - Hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
    • H5 - Hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
    • H6 - Hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
    • H7 - Hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

    H4

Colour

Sunlight

  • Full Sun

  • Partial Shade

  • Aspect West-facing or South-facing

  • Exposure Sheltered

Soil

  • Clay

    Clay

  • Loam

    Loam

  • MoisturePoorly-drained

  • SoilClay, Loam

  • pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral

Size

  • Ultimate height 0.5-1 metres

  • Ultimate spread 0.1-0.5 metres

  • Time to ultimate height 5-10 years

How to grow

Cultivation Zantedeschia cultivation grow outdoors in full sun or part shade in moisture-retentive soil; in containers planted in JI No2 potting compost or can also be grown as a marginal plant in water up to 30cm (1ft) deep. Use aquatic compost and a 30cm (1ft) deep planting basket.

Propagation Propagate by division in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types Flower borders and beds Cottage & Informal Garden Sub-tropical Patio & Container Plants Mediterranean Climate Plants

How to care

Pruning Tidy any foliage blackened by frosts

Pests Aphids or thrips may be a problem

Diseases May be susceptible to fungal and bacterial rots and a virus

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Zantedeschia aethiopica

arum lily

Buy from £5.99 at the RHS Plants Shop

Buy from £5.99 at the RHS Plants Shop

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