Calla Lily Varieties – Information About Different Calla Lily Plants

calla variety
calla variety
(Image credit: Straitel)

Calla lily plants produce classically beautiful flowers, prized for their elegant, trumpet-like shape. The white calla lily is one of the most well-known and popular varieties, but if you’re a fan, check out the many other colorful options.

About Calla Lilies Plants

Calla lilies are not true lilies; they belong to the Arum family of plants and the genus Zantedeschia. There are six different species of this flower, which hail from South Africa and that have become popular for growing in the garden and for cut flowers around the world. Both in beds and in containers, all types of calla lily make for an elegant addition. In general, calla lilies prefer full sun or partial shade and rich, moist, well-drained soil. In warmer climates without winter frost, these flowers will grow like perennials. In colder areas, they are tender bulbs that can be planted each year, or that can be brought indoors to remain dormant for the winter.

Calla Lily Varieties

There are many different calla lily types and varieties, with a range of heights between about 1 and 3 feet (31-61 cm.), and many choices for brilliant colors:

  • Acapulco Gold’ – For the sunniest yellow calla lily, choose this variety. ‘Acapulco gold’ produces large blooms that are bright yellow.
  • Night Life’ and ‘Night Cap’ – For a rich, deep shade of purple, try either of these varieties. ‘Night Life’ produces a larger flower that is darker and bluer in tone, while ‘Night Cap’ is a smaller flower in a redder shade of deep purple.
  • California Ice Dancer’ – This variety of calla lily produces large, perfectly creamy white flowers on stalks that grow about 18 inches (46 cm.) tall. The leaves are a darker shade of green than most varieties, perfectly offsetting the white blooms.
  • California Red’ – California Red is a gorgeous shade of deep reddish pink, neither too bright nor too dark.
  • Pink Melody’ – This variety produces a triple-toned flower that goes from green to white to pink as it extends from the base of the bloom. This is also a tall calla lily, growing up to 2 feet (61 cm.) in height.
  • Crystal Blush’ – Similar to ‘Pink Melody,’ this variety is whiter with just a hint, or blush, of pink on the edges of the petals.
  • Fire Dancer’ – One of the showiest of all the varieties of calla lilies, ‘Fire Dancer’ is large, and a deep gold edged in red.

With all these calla lily types, you can hardly go wrong. These are all beautiful flowers, and they can be used to complement other plants in your garden or together to create a stunning variety of multi-colored and regal blooms.

Mary Ellen Ellis
Writer

Mary Ellen Ellis has been gardening for over 20 years. With degrees in Chemistry and Biology, Mary Ellen's specialties are flowers, native plants, and herbs.