Focal flower · Araceae
Calla lily
Zantedeschia spp.
Also known as Arum lily and Calla
Sleek, sculptural blooms associated with elegance and rebirth; not a true lily.
Colour: White
Traditionally, purity and rebirth; a wedding and sympathy classic.
Toxic to cats and dogs. Read the pet-safety note
- Peak season
- May–Jul
- Vase life
- 7–14 days
- Birth month
- —
- Colours
- 5
What the calla lily means
Despite its name, the calla is not a true lily but a member of the arum family, native to southern Africa. The white form became linked to purity, rebirth, and resurrection, and it has long appeared at Easter, weddings, and funerals alike. In the 1920s and 1930s callas were a favorite of Art Deco designers and of painters such as Georgia O'Keeffe and Diego Rivera. It is also listed as a traditional sixth wedding anniversary flower. Colored callas are often given for admiration and gratitude, though, as always, these meanings are customs rather than rules.
Flower meanings come mostly from Victorian floriography, and they vary between books, eras, and cultures.
Often sent for
- Sympathy
- Anniversary
- Thank you
- Mother's Day
By colour
- White Traditionally, purity and rebirth; a wedding and sympathy classic.
- Plum Often read as elegance and admiration.
- Yellow Associated with gratitude and cheer.
- Pink Often given for appreciation.
- Orange Associated with warmth and enthusiasm.
Keeping it fresh
Available year-round from greenhouses; garden callas flower late spring to summer.
- 1 Use only a few inches of water; calla stems are soft and can split or rot if left standing deep.
- 2 Stem ends tend to split and curl; recut them cleanly, and some florists wrap the tips with clear tape.
- 3 Handle the blooms gently; they bruise and mark easily.
- 4 Keep in cool water away from heat and drafts.
Pet safety
- cats Toxic
- dogs Toxic
- horses Not listed
ASPCA lists calla lily as toxic to cats and dogs (insoluble calcium oxalates): mouth irritation, drooling, vomiting. Horses are not listed.
“Not listed” means the ASPCA has no entry for this plant — not that it is safe. Keep it out of reach.
Source: ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plants. If a pet eats any plant, call your vet or ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435.
Did you know
A calla's single petal is really a spathe, a modified leaf wrapped around a finger-like spike of tiny true flowers called the spadix.
Pairs well with
Make your own calla lily bouquet
Pick a vase, add a card, and share the link — no delivery van, no wilting.
Open Flower Studio