Deno’s GardenMy Garden

Zantedeschia aethiopica

Altar-lily · Arum Lily · Arun Lily · Calla Lily

Family AraceaeGenus Zantedeschia

Three white funnel-shaped spathes curling to a point, on tall smooth stems above broad arrow-shaped leaves.
FlowerEric HuntCC BY-SA 2.5

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

Safety

Toxicity
Medium severity. Flowers, Leaves, Roots, Sap/Juice, Stems. Calcium oxalate.Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

The plant

Habit
Herbaceous perennialPlant Finder
Habit
tuberous geophytePlants of the World Online
Height
2-3 ft60-90 cmPlant Finder
Spread
1.5-2 ft45-60 cmPlant Finder
Flower
Showy, good cut; white spathe with yellow spadixPlant Finder
Blooms
June to JulyPlant Finder
Native range
Southern AfricaPlant Finder
Hardiness zones
8-10Plant Finder
Note
The green capsule round the seed photosynthesizes, and appears to secrete a germination inhibitor.Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed.

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun to part shadePlant Finder
Soil
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Frequent Standing Water, Moist, Occasional Flooding, Occasionally WetExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Watering
Medium to wetPlant Finder

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plant Finder — Missouri Botanical Garden; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno.

Worth knowing

Protocol

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Clean the flesh off the seed

    Take the seed out of the green capsule and rinse it in water.

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 28 days to germinate.

100% germination in 28 days.

Every seed, once it is out of the capsule. Left in, germination is delayed. Light and a prior 3 months at 40 made no difference.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, ZantedeschiaPublic domain
Show the original text
Zantedeschia (Araceae). Z. ethiopeca seeds are enclosed in a green photosynthesizing capsule. This capsule appears to secrete a germination inhibitor. Seeds removed from the capsule and rinsed with water germ. 100% in 4th w in 70D. Germination was delayed for seeds left in the capsule although the capsule soon rotted. Light anda prior 3 m at 40 had no effect on the germination.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Zantedeschia. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

Add to My Garden

View species page