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How to Grow Calla Lilies: A Complete Planting and Care Guide
Calla lilies look expensive and fussy. They are neither. A calla is a rhizome — a fat underground stem — that you push into the ground in spring and forget about until a rolled green spike pushes up eight weeks later and unfolds into a single, perfectly curled flower. This guide covers everything that actually changes the outcome: when you plant, how deep, how wet, and what to do when the season ends.
One clarification before we start, because it trips up a lot of first-time growers: the “bulb” you buy is a rhizome, not a true bulb like a tulip. It stores water and energy the same way, but it has a visible growing point and a knobbly shape, and it cannot survive being frozen.
Where calla lilies grow
Callas are native to southern Africa. They want warm soil, plenty of light, and a steady supply of water while they are in growth. In USDA zones 8–11 they can be left in the ground year round and will naturalise into steadily widening clumps. In zones 3–7, treat them as annuals or lift the rhizomes before the first frost and store them indoors.
In hot climates — zone 9 and above — give them afternoon shade. A calla that bakes in 100°F sun all afternoon will flower, but the spathes bleach and the leaf edges scorch.
When to plant
Plant after the last frost date, when the soil has warmed to about 60°F (15°C). In most of the U.S. that is late April to mid-May. In zones 8–11 you get a second, easier window in autumn — planting in October gives you flowers the following spring with almost no effort.
If you want cut flowers for a specific date, count backwards: 60–90 days from planting. See our guide to when calla lilies bloom for a month-by-month table.
How to plant, step by step
- Soak nothing. Unlike bare-root perennials, calla rhizomes do not need a pre-soak. A wet rhizome in cold soil is the fastest route to rot.
- Loosen the soil 8–10 inches deep and work in compost. Drainage matters more than fertility.
- Set the rhizome 3–4 inches deep, with the growing point (the knobbly “eyes”) facing up. If you cannot tell which end is up, lay it flat — it will right itself.
- Space them 12 inches apart. Clumps spread; crowded rhizomes flower less.
- Water once, then leave them alone until you see growth. Overwatering before sprouting is the single most common way people kill callas.
Water and feed
Once the first shoot appears, callas want consistent moisture — think “damp sponge”, not “swamp”. In pots that often means water every two to three days in summer; in the ground, a deep soak once a week beats a daily sprinkle.
Feed with a balanced liquid fertiliser every three weeks until the flowers open. Stop feeding once they are in bloom — too much nitrogen pushes leaves at the expense of flowers.
Growing callas in pots
One rhizome per 8-inch pot, three in a 12-inch pot. Use a free-draining compost mix and make sure the pot has a real drainage hole. Pots have one big advantage: you can move them under cover when autumn rain starts, which keeps the rhizome dry as it goes dormant.
After flowering: the part most people get wrong
Leave the foliage alone until it yellows. The leaves are still charging the rhizome for next year. When they die back naturally, cut them at soil level.
- Zones 8–11: leave the rhizomes in the ground, mulch lightly, and wait.
- Zones 3–7: lift with a fork, brush off (do not wash) the soil, let them dry in a shed for a week, then store in a paper bag with dry peat at 50–60°F. Check once a month and remove anything soft.
Problems you will actually run into
| No flowers, only leaves | Too much shade, too much nitrogen, or a rhizome that is too small to flower this year. |
| Yellow leaves in summer | Usually waterlogging. Check drainage before you add fertiliser. |
| Mushy rhizome | Bacterial soft rot. Discard it — it will not recover, and it spreads in storage. |
| Aphids on new growth | A sharp jet of water every few days is usually enough; insecticidal soap for a heavy infestation. |
Shop the bulbs
Calla Lily Bulbs – Pick Your Color
White, pink, purple, orange, yellow or mixed. Packs of 2–10 rhizomes from $12.66.
Frequently asked questions
Do calla lilies come back every year?
In zones 8–11, yes — they naturalise and return reliably. In colder zones you need to lift and store the rhizomes, or treat them as annuals.
How deep do you plant calla lily bulbs?
Three to four inches deep, 12 inches apart, with the growing point facing up. Deep planting in cold soil is the main cause of rot.
Can calla lilies grow in shade?
They take light shade happily, especially in hot climates. Deep shade produces lush leaves and very few flowers.
Are calla lilies toxic to pets?
Yes. All parts contain calcium oxalate crystals and are toxic to cats and dogs if chewed. Keep pots out of reach indoors.
Ready to plant? Our calla lily bulbs ship as firm, top-size rhizomes in packs of 2 to 10, and every order carries a 30-day arrive-alive guarantee.
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