Zantedeschia elliottiana

RHS Plant Profile

golden calla

Other common names

golden arum lily, yellow arum lily

Herbaceous Perennial

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A rhizomatous perennial to 90cm, with arrow-shaped dark green leaves finely spotted with white, and yellow spathes to 15cm long

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 1 year
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
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): H1C

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Araceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Potentially harmful: Harmful if eatenskin/eye irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Harmful if eatenskin/eye irritant - for further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
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
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Northern South Africa

How to Grow

Cultivation

Use as summer bedding, planting in a moist, humus-rich, but well-drained soil in full sun. Lift and store overwinter in trays of peat-free compost in a cool, frost-free garage or shed and plant out tubers in spring after risk of frost has passed. Alternatively, grow in containers of peat-free, loam-based John Innes No2 potting compost and overwinter in a greenhouse or conservatory. See Zantedeschia cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by division in spring or propagate by seed, at 21-27°C (70-81°F) when ripe but flowers may not appear for 2 or 3 years.

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Sub-tropical
City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Deadhead flowers and cut down yellowing foliage at the end of the season

Pests

May be susceptible to aphids or thrips; glasshouse red spider mite or glasshouse whitefly

Diseases

May be susceptible to fungal and bacterial rots and a virus