Plant Library

Other Names:  Lily of the Nile, Easter Lily, Arum Lily

Description:

A gorgeous and unique looking selection perfect for indoor containers and planters; narrow, glossy green foliage gives way to deep and dark black-eggplant purple spathes; a lovely addition to any fresh cut arrangement

Features & Attributes

Classic Black Calla Lily features bold black trumpet-shaped flowers with deep purple overtones rising above the foliage from early summer to early fall. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its attractive glossy narrow leaves remain dark green in color throughout the year.

This is an herbaceous houseplant with tall flower stalks held atop a low mound of foliage. Its relatively coarse texture stands it apart from other indoor plants with finer foliage. This plant may benefit from an occasional pruning to look its best.

Planting & Growing

When grown indoors, Classic Black Calla Lily can be expected to grow to be about 18 inches tall at maturity extending to 24 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 12 inches. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years. This houseplant will do well in a location that gets either direct or indirect sunlight, although it will usually require a more brightly-lit environment than what artificial indoor lighting alone can provide. It requires an evenly moist well-drained soil for optimal growth. The surface of the soil shouldn't be allowed to dry out completely, and so you should expect to water this plant once and possibly even twice each week. Be aware that your particular watering schedule may vary depending on its location in the room, the pot size, plant size and other conditions; if in doubt, ask one of our experts in the store for advice. It is not particular as to soil type or pH; an average potting soil should work just fine. Be warned that parts of this plant are known to be toxic to humans and animals, so special care should be exercised if growing it around children and pets.

There are many factors that will affect the ultimate height, spread and overall performance of a plant when grown indoors; among them, the size of the pot it's growing in, the amount of light it receives, watering frequency, the pruning regimen and repotting schedule. Use the information described here as a guideline only; individual performance can and will vary. Please contact the store to speak with one of our experts if you are interested in further details concerning recommendations on pot size, watering, pruning, repotting, etc.