🔍 Calla Lily | Zantedeschia aethiopica 🌸
📍 Oreamuno, Cartago, Costa Rica 🇨🇷
💬 Despite its elegant appearance in gardens worldwide, the calla lily is actually toxic to humans and pets — every part of the plant contains calcium oxalate crystals that cause intense burning and irritation if ingested. Originally from southern Africa, it has naturalized so successfully in some regions that it’s now considered invasive!
Flora
Zantedeschia aethiopica
// Basic ID
Conservation Status
Least Concern
Other Common Names
Calla Lily, Arum Lily, Trumpet Lily, Pig Lily
Plant Type
Herbaceous perennial
Flower / Leaf Color
White spathe with yellow spadix; deep green, arrow-shaped leaves
Lifespan
Perennial; can live many years under suitable conditions
// Size
Height
60–100 cm (24–39 in)
Spread
60–90 cm (24–35 in)
// Habitat & Behavior
Uses
Ornamental, cut flower arrangements, funeral and wedding floristry
Wildlife Attraction
Attracts bees, flies, and other pollinators to its spadix
Native Region
Southern Africa (South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini)
Current Distribution
Naturalized in parts of Europe, Americas, Australia, and New Zealand
Habitat
Wetlands, stream banks, moist meadows, and disturbed areas
Sources: IUCN Red List · Plants of the World Online · USDA PLANTS Database · Encyclopedia of Life