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Calla lily
A single, sculptural gesture.
A deep burgundy curve, an almost black edge, a luminous green stem. Our studio photographs show how much presence one calla lily can have on its own.
- Colour
- Deep burgundy
- Form
- Sculptural, folded spathe
The smooth, folded spathe gives the calla its unmistakable silhouette. In these photographs, the colour moves between wine red and near black as the light catches it.
See it in our workKeep it beautiful.
Water
Keep cut ends in clean solution and inspect the soft stems daily. Follow the supplier’s depth advice for your variety.
Cut
Use a clean, sharp blade to make a fresh cut without crushing the stem.
Refresh
Check the level daily; wash the vase and refresh the water every 2–3 days, sooner if cloudy.
Vase life
4–10 days
The essentials
Stem & leaves
Thick, soft, fleshy stems. Remove every leaf that would sit below the waterline.
Placement
A cool indoor position away from direct sun, radiators and strong draughts.
Freshness
Choose smooth, firm spathes and non-slimy stems. Avoid wrinkling, brown tips and bruises.
Opening
Flowers harvested too early may not open fully. Do not force or pull the spathe.
Problems & fixes
The stem end splits or curls
Soft stem tissue and water balance can contribute; it is not proof that the vase simply contains too much water.
Trim damaged tissue with a clean blade, refresh the solution and follow the supplier’s conditioning advice.
The flower will not open
It may have been harvested too early.
Keep it hydrated and avoid forcing the spathe. Choose a more developed flower next time.
Edges turn brown
Age, damage and handling conditions can contribute.
Keep the flower cool and handle it by the stem. Existing browned tissue will not become fresh again.
Flower details.
Zantedeschia; dark coloured hybrids are not identified to species or cultivar from these photographs.
Season
Varies between species and coloured hybrids.
Protected and imported flowers may be supplied outside local flowering periods. Confirm current availability.
Appearance
line flower
Smooth folded spathe around a central spadix.
- white
- cream
- yellow
- orange
- pink
- purple
- burgundy
- green
Origin
Southern and eastern Africa.
What it loves.
Airy flowers or a rounded focal bloom can balance the clean line.
Avoid: Crowding the spathes so their outlines disappear.
Vase
A stable narrow-neck vase tall enough to support the chosen stems.
Style
Minimal lines, or a small number of sculptural accents in a mixed arrangement.
Start with
3–5 stems
Starting point for a small single-flower vase; adjust to stem length and vessel stability.
Sources and editorial note
Care and botany are summarised from the linked references. Pairing, stem counts and vase choices are design suggestions, pending studio review. Ranges vary with cultivar, harvest stage and handling.
- FloraLife — Care in your home — General cut-flower preparation, cool water, flower food, leaf removal and placement.
- RHS — Cutting and conditioning flowers — General conditioning and vase hygiene.
- FloraLife — Calla lily — Family, origin, scent, vase life, buying stage, soft stems and splitting.
- ASPCA — Calla lily / Pig lily — Toxicity and irritating calcium oxalates in Zantedeschia aethiopica; the catalogue takes a cautious approach to coloured hybrids.
In good company.
See calla lily in bouquets from our studio.
Found something you love?
Tell us what caught your eye. We’ll discuss seasonal availability and an arrangement for your space.