A less common variety of calla lily (Zantesdeschia aethiopica 'African Gold')

[Hillizard]

Couldn't resist mail ordering this less common calla lily (Zantesdeschia aethiopica 'African Gold') for palm understory planting. Is supposed to do well in zones 8b to 10b. Definitely different than the usual spotted leaf types!

[Darold Petty]

I want one !  Please share your vendor.  Our Moderator discourages mention of vendors who are not IPS members, so shoot me a PM.  Thanks.

[Hillizard]

3 hours ago, Darold Petty said:

I want one !  Please share your vendor.  Our Moderator discourages mention of vendors who are not IPS members, so shoot me a PM.  Thanks.

Of course! I'm sure these will do very well closer to the coast here in NorCal.

[Really full garden]

I have a weakness for bold varigated foliage. That looks spectacular. Calla Lilies do really well highland gardens in Guatemala.

[RaychHasDatePalms]

Wow, that is absolutely gorgeous! Callas are one of my favorite ever flowers. 

[Hillizard]

On 5/12/2020 at 3:59 PM, Hillizard said:

Couldn't resist mail ordering this less common calla lily (Zantesdeschia aethiopica 'African Gold') for palm understory planting. Is supposed to do well in zones 8b to 10b. Definitely different than the usual spotted leaf types!

Here's what my order of this Calla cultivar looks like after an arduous journey across the country in a hot, dark box. They're recovering nicely. I apparently received more than one corm which is nice.

[Darold Petty]

Yes, my plants are substantial for the pot size, also.  (Not always the case with this vendor!)

[Hillizard]

On 6/18/2020 at 6:36 AM, Darold Petty said:

Yes, my plants are substantial for the pot size, also.  (Not always the case with this vendor!)

Darold: Yes, I think we both got what we paid (too much) for! Shipping costs were outrageou$!  I suspect in your local climatic conditions you'll have better luck with this cultivar than me! We'll all want to see pictures when yours are established as a palm understory planting!

[Lyn96]

2 years on and I want to ask you both how they're doing? I'm thinking of putting them on my wish list. They look gorgeous, but how vigorous are they? How well do they grow and expand? Does one little baby like that fill a 15 gallon in several years? Does the variegation hold up? looks like some leaves/stems are variegated while others aren't.. ??

Edited April 10, 2023 by Lyn96

[Lyn96]

On 5/13/2020 at 6:49 AM, Darold Petty said:

I want one !  Please share your vendor.  Our Moderator discourages mention of vendors who are not IPS members, so shoot me a PM.  Thanks.

2 years on and I want to ask you both how they're doing? I'm thinking of putting them on my wish list. They look gorgeous, but how vigorous are they? How well do they grow and expand? Does one little baby like that fill a 15 gallon in several years? Does the variegation hold up? looks like some leaves/stems are variegated while others aren't.. ??

[Hillizard]

31 minutes ago, Lyn96 said:

2 years on and I want to ask you both how they're doing? I'm thinking of putting them on my wish list. They look gorgeous, but how vigorous are they? How well do they grow and expand? Does one little baby like that fill a 15 gallon in several years? Does the variegation hold up? looks like some leaves/stems are variegated while others aren't.. ??

I'm very pleased with the look and the vigor of mine. I just took a picture of it minutes ago to show you. It's a great calla for pots. I kept mine under the protection of my pergola this winter. It's got a couple of blooms coming out, along with a lot of leaves. The newer leaves have the most variegation, esp. during the summer.

[Lyn96]

Wow. It's gorgeous. Thank you  Hillizard. Does the variegation fade over a period of months? How strange.

[Darold Petty]

Images of mine will be posted tomorrow !  

[Lyn96]

11 hours ago, Hillizard said:

I'm very pleased with the look and the vigor of mine. I just took a picture of it minutes ago to show you. It's a great calla for pots. I kept mine under the protection of my pergola this winter. It's got a couple of blooms coming out, along with a lot of leaves. The newer leaves have the most variegation, esp. during the summer.

Also, Might be a good thing you put it under the pergola,. My plain Calla didn't do well one night this winter. Not sure if it was freeze damage or if a raccoon or something landed on it, but all the leaves had drooped so far they broke. My neighbor's plants froze back.. Had to cut it back and it's now recovering. I think I'll divide it now as not likely to damage the leaves yet but it's warming up. Roots are OK.

[Darold Petty]

Here are my two plants, just getting large enough to start producing flowers.

(Don't mind my iguana, he never chews plants or digs burrows !)

 

[Hillizard]

On 4/9/2023 at 7:01 PM, Lyn96 said:

Wow. It's gorgeous. Thank you  Hillizard. Does the variegation fade over a period of months? How strange.

Yes, the variegation does disappear over time, but it's always putting out new leaves.🙂

[Hillizard]

4 hours ago, Darold Petty said:

Here are my two plants, just getting large enough to start producing flowers.

(Don't mind my iguana, he never chews plants or digs burrows !)

 

Very nice Darold. From the looks of it, your plants retained their variegation longer than mine have this winter. I'm going to take a guess and say that looks like a Cobb Mtn. Lupine
(Lupinus sericatus) next to the Calla in the first image? And BTW, nice iguana!🦎

[Lyn96]

Those are both gorgeous. I'm going to have to hold back on buying a start of them though. I just dug up my plain callas and they have root rot from all this rain! A swamp plant with root rot! Must be because it was so cold here. I'm cutting off bad parts now, disinfecting and hoping for the best.. But.. they are really tough plants. They're actively growing in spite of it. I'm optimistic.

[Darold Petty]

15 hours ago, Hillizard said:

I'm going to take a guess and say that looks like a Cobb Mtn. Lupine
(Lupinus sericatus) next to the Calla in the first image? 

Yes, you are correct.  It has not flowered yet, perhaps not quite enough direct sun.  this spot gets only a bit of morning sun, then afternoon shade.

  Reading more about this species I believe that it wants more sun, and that I have sited it poorly .. I do have one better spot.   Are these amenable to transplant ?? 

[Hillizard]

38 minutes ago, Darold Petty said:

Yes, you are correct.  It has not flowered yet, perhaps not quite enough direct sun.  this spot gets only a bit of morning sun, then afternoon shade.

  Reading more about this species I believe that it wants more sun, and that I have sited it poorly .. I do have one better spot.   Are these amenable to transplant ?? 

I've never transplanted that species, but it's worth a try this early in spring. Where I live mine does better in light shade, while yours would probably prefer more sun!

[Hillizard]

Lupinus sericatus

On 4/11/2023 at 1:46 PM, Hillizard said:

I've never transplanted that species, but it's worth a try this early in spring. Where I live mine does better in light shade, while yours would probably prefer more sun!

Darold: Here's my little Lupinus sericatus in bloom today. Not sure if it'll survive the summer, although this one is in semi-shade so that should help! The abundant "leaf mulch" around it is provided free of charge by my next door neighbor's tree that's badly in need of severe pruning! 😡

[Darold Petty]

Very nice !

[Hillizard]

On 4/10/2023 at 6:25 AM, Lyn96 said:

Also, Might be a good thing you put it under the pergola,. My plain Calla didn't do well one night this winter. Not sure if it was freeze damage or if a raccoon or something landed on it, but all the leaves had drooped so far they broke. My neighbor's plants froze back.. Had to cut it back and it's now recovering. I think I'll divide it now as not likely to damage the leaves yet but it's warming up. Roots are OK.

Here is the same plant a little further along this season, with many more blooms and variegated leaves this year than last!

 

[Lyn96]

Nice!

[Hillizard]

On 5/14/2023 at 12:34 PM, Hillizard said:

Here is the same plant a little further along this season, with many more blooms and variegated leaves this year than last!

 

My Zantesdeschia aethiopica 'African Gold' hasn't slowed down this winter (picture below taken today, 2.2.24). The stripes in the older leaves fade over time. Stays very compact in a large pot. It grows under the shelter of a lath pergola. Not sure it could take full sun where I live?

[Silas_Sancona]

Can't speak for that particular variety, but i know regular Callas can handle sun, as long as the soil is moist.

ironically, i spotted this hiding on the left hand side of a picture taken from the 1st post frost / light freeze walk in the neighborhood..  Be interesting to see if they're still around come April / May.  Apparently have been in the same bed(s) since -at least- 12/ 2022. ( Can see them in street view shots )

Calla Lilies, ...in the desert.

[Hillizard]

Here are current pix of my Zantesdeschia aethiopica (striped Calla lily) at the start of winter here. Where I am it has a very brief dormant period then sends up new leaves fast! I grow it in a pot, under the shade of my pergola. 

[Darold Petty]

I will try to post a current  image of mine tomorrow.  Meanwhile, check out  my offer in the 'freebies' section !  

[tinman10101]

wow those are truly beautiful with their zebra variegation.  thanks for sharing

[hbernstein]

That's a killer Calla!