Calla palustris

RHS Plant Profile
water arum

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Calla palustris?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
water arum Dorling Kindersley 2003

Other common names

bog arum, swamp lily, water dragon

Aquatic
Thank you - your purchase supports our charity work Buy this from RHS Plants Shop
Buy online from £44.99Buy this from Plant Nurseries
8 Suppliers

A rhizomatous, marginal aquatic perennial with broadly heart-shaped, glossy leaves and white flower spathes to 25cm in length in summer

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
5–10 years
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Poorly–drained
pH
Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or 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)
H7

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Araceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump forming
Potentially harmful
Harmful if eatenskin/eye irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling Pets: Harmful if eatenskin/eye irritant - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus
Calla are deciduous or partially evergreen herbaceous perennials growing in shallow water, with glossy dark green leaves and arum-like white spathes surrounding yellowish flower spikes, sometimes followed by dull red berries
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
Temperate regions

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in humus-rich, lime free soil in planting baskets in mud or in still or slow moving water no deeper than 25 cm, in full sun. See pond plants and bog gardens for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed sown in late summer or by division of the rhizomes in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Low Maintenance

Pruning

Cut back after flowering

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free