Calla lilies (Zantedeschia spp. and hybrids) are known for their elegant, funnel-shaped spathes surrounding a central flower spike called a spadix. While classic white calla lilies are among the most familiar, cultivated varieties also produce striking shades of pink, yellow, orange, burgundy, deep purple, and near-black, as well as unusual bicolored forms.

Some calla lily cultivars are widely available, while others may be harder to find or offered only seasonally by specialty growers. Because “rare” is not an official botanical classification for calla lilies, the term is best used to describe unusual or less commonly available varieties rather than a formally recognized group.

In this guide, you’ll discover distinctive calla lily varieties chosen for their unusual colors, patterns, and other ornamental features. You’ll also learn about their characteristics, growing requirements, propagation, and care in gardens and containers.

Flower Lovers Want to Know

Are rare calla lilies actually rare?

“Rare” is not an official classification for calla lilies. It generally describes unusual or less commonly available cultivars, especially those with distinctive colors or patterns.

Are black calla lilies really black?

Not quite. So-called black calla lilies usually have very dark purple, burgundy, or maroon spathes that can appear nearly black.

Are calla lilies true lilies?

No. Calla lilies belong to the genus Zantedeschia in the arum family (Araceae). Their showy spathe surrounds a central flower-bearing spadix.

Can unusual calla lilies grow in containers?

Yes. Many calla lilies perform well in containers with adequate light, consistent moisture during active growth, and good drainage.

Do calla lilies come back every year?

Calla lilies are perennials, but winter survival depends on the type and climate. In colder regions, dormant rhizomes may need to be lifted and protected from freezing.

Can calla lilies be grown from seed?

Yes, but seedlings from hybrids or named cultivars may not resemble the parent plant. Division is better for preserving the traits of a particular cultivar.

Quick Facts About Calla Lilies

Quick Fact	Details
Botanical name	Zantedeschia spp. and hybrids
Common name	Calla lily
Family	Araceae
Plant type	Herbaceous perennial
Native range	Tropical and southern Africa
Flower structure	Showy spathe surrounding a spadix
Flower colors	White, pink, yellow, orange, purple, burgundy, near-black, and bicolors
Light	Full sun to partial shade
Soil	Fertile, well-drained soil
Water	Consistent moisture during active growth
Bloom season	Typically late spring through summer, depending on type and climate
Propagation	Division; also seed
Best uses	Borders, containers, and cut flowers

Rare and Unusual Calla Lilies: Unique Varieties to Grow

Calla lilies vary considerably in color, size, and appearance. The varieties below stand out for features such as deep coloration, unusual patterns, or distinctive spathes that set them apart from classic white calla lilies.

What Are Calla Lilies?

Calla lilies are herbaceous perennials in the genus Zantedeschia and the arum family (Araceae). Native to parts of tropical and southern Africa, they grow from underground rhizomes or tuberous stems and are cultivated for their distinctive flowers and attractive foliage.

What appears to be a single trumpet-shaped flower is actually a spathe, a modified leaf that surrounds a central spadix bearing many tiny flowers. Depending on the species or cultivar, the spathe may be white, pink, yellow, orange, burgundy, purple, or nearly black.

One of the best-known species is Zantedeschia aethiopica, commonly called the arum lily or white calla lily. It is recognized by its large white spathe surrounding a yellow spadix.

Rare and Unusual Calla Lily Varieties

The following calla lilies stand out for their dark colors, unusual patterns, bicolored spathes, or other distinctive features. Some are widely available, while others may be more difficult to find depending on the region and season.

1. ‘Schwarzwalder’ Calla Lily

‘Schwarzwalder’ is one of the most dramatic dark calla lilies. Its spathes are a very deep black-purple, surrounding a purple spadix. The dark flowers rise above slender green leaves marked with white spots.

Growing to about 2 feet tall, ‘Schwarzwalder’ works well in containers, summer beds, and cut-flower gardens. Its nearly black coloration also creates a striking contrast with white, pink, or pale yellow flowers.

Standout feature: Very dark black-purple spathes

Best use: Containers, borders, and cut flowers

2. ‘Picasso’ Calla Lily

‘Picasso’ is a distinctive bicolored calla lily with cream-white and rich purple spathes. The contrasting colors become especially noticeable as the flowers develop.

Plants typically reach around 2 feet tall and produce spotted foliage that adds interest even when the plant is not flowering. Its unusual two-tone appearance makes ‘Picasso’ particularly effective in containers and mixed plantings.

Standout feature: Cream and purple bicolored spathes

Best use: Containers and focal plantings

3. ‘Green Goddess’ Calla Lily

‘Green Goddess’ is an unusual selection of Zantedeschia aethiopica known for its white spathes marked with prominent green coloration. Unlike the compact colored hybrids, it retains the larger, more traditional appearance associated with white calla lilies.

The combination of green and white gives the flowers a distinctive look that works well in garden plantings and floral arrangements.

Standout feature: Green-and-white spathes

Best use: Garden displays and cut flowers

4. ‘Pink Mist’ Calla Lily

‘Pink Mist’ is another distinctive selection of Zantedeschia aethiopica. Its flowers retain the classic white calla appearance but develop soft pink coloration near the base of the spathe, accompanied by a pink-toned spadix.

The subtle coloring makes ‘Pink Mist’ quite different from the brighter pink hybrid callas commonly sold for containers and summer displays.

Standout feature: White spathes with soft pink coloring

Best use: Borders, water-garden margins, and cut flowers

5. ‘Red Desire’ Calla Lily

‘Red Desire’ offers an unusual variation on the traditional white calla lily. Rather than being grown for brightly colored spathes, this Zantedeschia aethiopica selection is notable for its red-toned spadix, which contrasts with the surrounding pale spathe.

Its unusual central coloration makes it an interesting choice for gardeners looking for something different from both classic white callas and modern brightly colored hybrids.

Standout feature: Unusual red-toned spadix

Best use: Specimen plantings and collections

6. ‘Captain Romance’ Calla Lily

‘Captain Romance’ brings a softer color to the group, producing attractive pink spathes above upright foliage. Like many modern colored calla lilies, it has a compact growth habit suitable for seasonal garden displays.

Its combination of pink flowers and manageable size makes it especially useful in containers, where the blooms can be viewed up close.

Standout feature: Rich pink coloring

Best use: Containers, patios, and summer displays

7. ‘Summer Sun’ Calla Lily

For a brighter look, ‘Summer Sun’ produces rich yellow spathes that stand out strongly against its green foliage. The vivid color provides a sharp contrast to the dark purple and burgundy cultivars often associated with unusual calla lilies.

It can be grown outdoors during warm weather or displayed in containers where its bright flowers become a focal point.

Standout feature: Rich yellow spathes

Best use: Containers and colorful summer plantings

8. ‘Mango’ Calla Lily

‘Mango’ is an eye-catching calla lily with red-orange spathes that blend warm shades within individual flowers. Its foliage is also decorated with white spotting, adding another ornamental feature.

Growing to around 2 feet tall, ‘Mango’ is a useful choice for containers or mixed summer plantings where its warm coloring can be paired with yellow, burgundy, or contrasting foliage plants.

Standout feature: Red-orange multicolored spathes

Best use: Containers and mixed borders

Calla Lily Variety Comparison

Variety	Main Color	Distinctive Feature	Best Use
‘Schwarzwalder’	Deep purple-black	Exceptionally dark spathes	Containers, borders, cut flowers
‘Picasso’	Cream and purple	Dramatic bicolored spathes	Containers, focal plantings
‘Green Goddess’	Green and white	Green-marked spathes	Garden displays, cut flowers
‘Pink Mist’	White and soft pink	Subtle pink coloration	Borders, cut flowers
‘Red Desire’	Pale spathe, red-toned center	Unusual spadix coloration	Specimen plantings
‘Captain Romance’	Pink	Rich pink spathes	Containers, patios
‘Summer Sun’	Yellow	Bright, sunny coloration	Containers, summer displays
‘Mango’	Red-orange	Warm blended coloring	Containers, mixed borders

How to Grow and Care for Calla Lilies

Calla lilies grow best with plenty of light, consistent moisture during active growth, and good drainage. Requirements can vary somewhat by species, hybrid, and climate.

• Light: Grow in full sun to partial shade. In hot climates, some afternoon shade can help protect plants from intense heat.
• Soil: Use fertile, well-drained soil that retains some moisture without remaining waterlogged. For containers, choose a quality potting mix and a pot with drainage holes.
• Water: Keep the soil consistently moist during active growth and flowering, but avoid stagnant, saturated conditions. Reduce watering as plants enter dormancy.
• Fertilizer: Feed during active growth with a balanced fertilizer according to label directions. Container-grown plants may require more regular feeding than those growing in fertile garden soil.
• Winter care: In mild climates, some calla lilies can remain outdoors year-round. Where winters are cold, tender rhizomes can be lifted after the foliage dies back and stored in a cool, dry, frost-free location until replanting.

Growing Calla Lilies in Containers

Calla lilies grow well in containers and can be displayed on patios, balconies, and other sunny outdoor spaces. Containers also make it easier to protect tender varieties where winters are cold.

• Choose a container with drainage holes to prevent water from collecting around the rhizomes.
• Use a fertile, well-drained potting mix that holds some moisture without becoming soggy.
• Place the container in full sun to partial shade, adjusting for intense afternoon heat in warmer climates.
• Water when needed to maintain consistent moisture during active growth, checking pots regularly during hot weather.
• Feed during active growth according to the directions for your chosen fertilizer.
• In cold climates, move containers to a frost-free location as the plants become dormant.

Propagation of Calla Lilies

Calla lilies can be propagated by division or seed, although division is usually the better method for named cultivars.

Division

Division allows you to produce new plants while preserving the characteristics of the parent cultivar.

• Divide rhizomes while the plant is dormant.
• Gently separate healthy offsets or sections from the parent rhizome.
• Make sure each division has healthy growing points.
• Replant the divisions in well-drained soil or potting mix.
• Water as new growth begins.

Growing from Seed

Species calla lilies can also be grown from seed, although they take longer to reach flowering size.

Seeds collected from hybrids or named cultivars may produce plants that differ from the parent, particularly in flower color and other ornamental traits. For that reason, division is preferred when you want to maintain a particular cultivar.

Common Pests and Diseases

Unfortunately, calla lilies can occasionally develop pest or disease problems, particularly when plants are stressed or grown in overly wet conditions.

• Aphids: These small sap-feeding insects may cluster on young growth and flower stems. Light infestations can often be removed with a strong spray of water.
• Thrips: Thrips can damage leaves and flowers, sometimes causing streaking, discoloration, or distorted growth. Inspect plants regularly and remove badly affected material.
• Spider mites: More common in hot, dry conditions, spider mites can cause stippling or yellowing of the foliage. Check the undersides of leaves for signs of infestation.
• Rhizome and soft rots: Excess moisture and poor drainage can encourage rotting. Plant in well-drained soil, avoid prolonged waterlogging, and discard badly rotted rhizomes.
• Fungal leaf problems: Leaf spotting and other fungal problems may develop under unfavorable conditions. Remove affected foliage, provide good air circulation, and avoid keeping plants unnecessarily wet.

Calla Lily Toxicity and Pet Safety

Calla lilies contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, so they should not be eaten by pets. Chewing the plant releases tiny crystals that can irritate the mouth and digestive tract.

• People: Calla lilies can irritate the skin, mouth, and eyes. If eaten, the calcium oxalate crystals can cause immediate burning and irritation of the lips, mouth, tongue, and throat. Poison Control

• Cats and dogs: Calla lilies are toxic to both cats and dogs if chewed or eaten. Signs can include mouth irritation, drooling, pawing at the mouth, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing.

• Handling: Consider wearing gloves when dividing rhizomes or handling damaged plants, and wash your hands afterward.

• Placement: Keep calla lilies out of reach of pets and young children who may chew plants.

Calla lilies are not true lilies (Lilium spp.). This distinction is especially important for cat owners because true lilies can cause severe kidney injury in cats.

Using Calla Lilies in Gardens and Floral Arrangements

The distinctive colors and upright flowers of calla lilies make them useful in both garden displays and floral designs.

Garden Uses

Calla lilies can be grown in borders, mixed beds, and containers, where their upright spathes provide color and contrast. Planting several of the same cultivar together can create a stronger display, while dark or bicolored varieties work well as focal points.

Compact varieties are particularly useful for patio containers and other small spaces.

Cut Flowers and Arrangements

Calla lilies are popular cut flowers because of their long stems and sculptural spathes. They can be displayed alone for a simple arrangement or combined with other flowers and foliage in bouquets and centerpieces.

Dark cultivars such as ‘Schwarzwalder’ provide dramatic contrast, while pink, yellow, orange, and bicolored varieties can be used for brighter arrangements.

Final Sprouts of Wisdom

Calla lilies offer far more variety than the familiar classic white forms. Cultivars with deep purple, pink, yellow, orange, green, and bicolored spathes provide plenty of options for containers, garden displays, and cut-flower arrangements.

Availability varies by cultivar, season, and supplier. Choose varieties that suit your growing conditions, provide good drainage and consistent moisture during active growth, and protect tender types where winters are cold.

Whether you prefer the near-black flowers of ‘Schwarzwalder’, the contrasting colors of ‘Picasso’, or the green-and-white spathes of ‘Green Goddess’, these distinctive calla lilies can bring an unusual touch to the garden.

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