How to Pick White Aethiopica Calla Lily

Hi, this is Yolanda Vanveen on behalf of Expert Village. The Calla Lilies are in bloom and they are what everyone wants in their yard. The White Calla Lily is one of the most traditional plants you can have in your garden. They generally do better in part sun or shade as opposed to full sun. If the area is deeply shaded they will not bloom as well. If you have an area that is a bit on the shady side or a wet spot in your garden, this is the plant that will thrive there. Aethipoicas or Calla Lilies, are from my favorite area of the world for bulbs; South Africa. As world travelers and explorers rounded the cape they found the flowers in bloom. They brought them back to Europe and other points of the globe. You will find Calla Lilies almost anywhere you travel in the world today, as they have been traded for many centuries. When selecting a Cally Lily bulb, make sure it is firm and not mushy when squeezed. The bulb should be fairly heavy in weight. The bulb should not be light in weight. Easy ways to tell if a Calla Lily bulb is good are snapping off one of the nubs or scratching it. If the exposed part resembles a potato, the bulb is good. When planting a Calla Lily, look for the side that has a tip like a Hershey's Kiss candy tip; or a shoot. If you cannot locate a shoot or are in doubt, plant the bulb sideways. Plant the bulb 3 to 6 inches deep as they can get big over the years. Cover until the tip is barely showing above ground. I could bring this plant inside as a houseplant or I could grow it outside where it will bloom in the summer. Calla Lilies usually need a couple of years to become established before they bloom well. They are one of the plants you need to be patient with. The rewards are immense and you'll enjoy it for many years to come. We'll move on to Iris bulbs in our next segment.