Zantedeschia aethiopica (Arum/Calla Lily) seeds

Arum, or Calla lilies as they are often known, are lovely exotic-looking plants which are very easy to grow from seed, require little maintenance and do very well in pots. Some species are hardy and others can easily be lifted from the border or moved in pots to a frost-free place for winter. They also make great indoor plants, especially in a sunny conservatory.

Zantedeschia aethiopica has lovely, pure white flowers that rise up on long stalks above lush, heart-shaped green foliage. Brilliant for cutting and very expensive at the florist! Can be grown virtually anywhere in full sun or semi-shade, and is also happy as a marginal plant in up to 30cm of water.

Hardy Perennial (to -5C - in cold areas store frost-free just after the first frosts.)
Flowers: Summer
Height: 30-75cm
Position: Sun or semi-shade

Packet of 10 seeds

Caution: Harmful if eaten

 

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GROWING GUIDE

Pre-Sowing Instructions: Soak the seeds for 24 hours in water that starts off hand hot.

Sowing Instructions: Sow at any time of the year. Sow very thinly on the surface of moist seed compost mixed 50:50 with vermiculite or perlite. Cover the seed very lightly with sieved compost or vermiculite/perlite but do not exclude light completely as it is beneficial to germination. Seal inside a polythene bag or place in a propagator and maintain at 20-25C. Germination takes 1-3 months and can be erratic hence the need to sow the seeds as thinly as possible. Check the container regularly to make sure the compost does not dry out.

Growing Instructions: When seedlings are large enough to handle, remove them carefully from the container and pot up individually into 9-11cm pots. Grow on in cooler conditions in good, natural light, but avoid direct sunlight. In late spring, after all risk of frost has passed, gradually acclimatise plants to outdoor conditions, before planting out in sun or semi-shade.

Can also be grown as a marginal plant in up to 30-cms of water and requires minimal winter protection – hardy to -5C. If temperatures are likely to drop lower, best lifted and stored frost free or heavily mulched and/or protected with a cloche over winter.

Caution: Harmful if eaten.