'Blackjack' Calla Lily in Zone 5 From Lowes

azngrnthumbs

17 years ago

Lowe's and just about all the other chain stores out there are doing everything in their power to promote and distribute plant material to bring in the dough, so I'm not surprised to hear a tropical plant be advertised as a "hardy" plant. It may be hardy in Florida or California where they're mass produced before being distributed nationwide, but one harsh winter in the ground or if left in a container over the winter, it's a gonner. Actually, this doesn't phase the marketers knowing that they've sold something at such a good value to the consumer, they know that it's a natural instinct for gardeners to just buy again.

Anyway, I'll stop ranting and talk about your Calla. It is likely not to overwinter unless you give it some care once frost arrives. Some people actually let the plants grow through the winter by bringing it indoors as a houseplant provided that it's given some supplemental lighting OR they can be "dried down" to a dormant state and stored until all danger of frost as passed to plant them outside once again. I'm sure someone can explain these methods in more detail. It will save you from treating these plants as expensive annuals!

Good Luck,

Riz

mrbrownthumb
Original Author

17 years ago

Riz,

Feel free to rant I feel the same way. I see a lot of Tropical Hibiscus plants planted in people's yards that HD carries and I wonder how many people will feel ripped off when they don't come back next year.

Thanks for the info I'll probably let it dry down because the window space is taken up by all the C&S I have. Have a good one.

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'Hardy' calla lilies

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Hello Calla lvers I decided to check out the bulb forum and chanced on this exchange. I can help out with some wondering with my cut & paste from the Aroid Forum - Here it is along with the respective dates. Tue, May 29, 07 Thought I would inform Calla Lily lovers in cold climates of a species/form that will grow where winters can be cold. I live outside of Buffalo, NY (zone 6) and planted Z. aetheopica 'Crowborough' form. It survived the winter of 2006/07 and is beginning to put on good healthy vigorus growth. I was very casual about protecting it as our winter began extremely mild. That changed in the middle of January, however it still survived! We get snow cover that acts as insulation. I bought it from Arrowhead Alpines. It has not bloomed yet, but possibly this summer. Wed, Jul 18, 07 Update on Zantedeschia aethiopica 'Crowborough'. My plant is growing quite vigorously and looks very healthy. No bloom as of yet, I think it may need to mature. I checked it as of 11:44AM, 7/18/07 I planted out in a south west exposure in a well drained area of my yard. I water it occasionally as it has been a dry year. I planted it last year and casually protected it. Since our winter was quite harsh from mid January to April and it is growing good, I would say it is hardy to Zone 6 which I am. I bought this from Arrowhead Alpines. This is reputed to be the hardiest Z. aethiopica form according to my research. I recommend it. August 13 - update: It is growing despite our dry conditions here in the Buffalo, NY area. No flowers as of this date. This winter, I shall mulch it better than laste winter. It looks really good and grew back this spring despite looking like cooked spinach due to winter!

Has any in zone 5 left calla lily bulbs in the ground and had the

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Comments (1)

I have always heard/read that they were only hardy to zone 7. What may have happened is that they may be in a microclimate where you have them planted...that is it is warmer there in the winter than in other parts of your property. Microclimates usually are the first areas to have the snow melt off in the winter/spring. I have one patio dahlia, that is planted in a bed on the south side of the house, next to the brick wall. It has survived being left in the ground for probably 4 winters. I have never noticed before, but imagine it might be a small microclimate area. Sue...chemocurl

HAVE: Calla lily for ground or pond- flat rate box

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I would love to have some of these! I have a small Helianthus 'First Light' that came from Plant Delights. Blooms in October here. I love it! I also have hosta Blue Mammoth and hosta Hirao Majesty. I have a medium -small leaved hosta Venusta Fiesta. I have a great amarcrinum 'Fred Howard' that is able to be divided some. Let me know, Sally

Winter Sowing in the MIDDLE zones: 5, 6, and 7 (native seed list)

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susanlynne48

17 years ago

Actually, calla lilies are hardy in the ground in zone 7 Oklahoma. Many people grow them here. Kind of like glads and dahlias are hardy in the ground here, too, even tho they are only supposed to be hardy to zone 8.

In the PNW they may not be because it is wetter there, and wet/cold will rot tubers/bulbs/rhizomes more than dry/cold.

We definitely do not get the moisture that the PNW does. However, in Chicago, these beauties will not be hardy in the ground, but you can bring the pots indoors as Riz suggests. They do like a dormant state, though, so I would let the foliage die back, as you would any bulb, to allow the dying foliage to feed the tubers. Then allow the pot to go dry, watering minimally just to keep the tuber from dissecating. Around late February-March, or when you begin to see some green growth again, start watering and fertilizing again. When the nights are in the middle 50s consistently, you can move them outside.

I buy a lot of stuff from HD just for the price. But I wouldn't rely on their advice for planting or culture...ever!

Susan

azngrnthumbs

17 years ago

Excellent tips and advice Susan!

mrbrownthumb
Original Author

17 years ago

Ditto the post above mine. Thanks for the info Susan.

karyn1

17 years ago

I'm in zone 7 and was surprised that quite a few callas that I missed when I lifted them last fall came back this year. I'm not counting on being that lucky again and will continue to lift and store them when the weather changes. I agree with what has been said about retailers such as HD and Lowes giving incorrect info about their plants. You can get some great bargains there as long as it's a recent shipment and their employees haven't had a chance to kill them.
Karyn

anna_lisa

17 years ago

Hi I would not trust HD or even garden centers i brought blue dahlia and it came out pink.
For the cally lily i have about one hundred of them and they store very easy just bring it in and put in a box with some wood chips or peatmoss. I also have black forest whick I love. Too bad I could not buy more they don't seem to sell them at all the garden center here in quebec oh well Anna

susanlynne48

17 years ago

LOL! Was that a packaged bulb, Anna_lisa? The bulbs they have are like that. I bought a green glad, but it's yellow! I've bought many dahlias that weren't the color they were supposed to be. But, that's not their fault, it's the commercial distributor's that they get them from. I think it's kind of fun because you never know what you're gonna get from those packaged bulbs.

A lot of times THEY have no clue what they've got, and you end up getting a bargain! Woo-hoo for us! I've gotten some really nice plants that way, and paid some really low prices. But, its caveat emptor!

Susan

judys1_suddenlink_net

12 years ago

I live in Zone 6 in West Virginia. I have had calla lilies in the ground for years, at least 10 for some of them. They always come back for me.

Haywoodmom

10 years ago

I was happily surprised when 1 bag of 2 bags of glads that I got at Lowes this spring turns out to be white calla lilies. They are beautiful... they were on clearance for $.50......the glads are up too and seem to be good... These are my first calla lilies.

Haywoodmom

10 years ago

I was happily surprised when 1 bag of 2 bags of glads that I got at Lowes this spring turns out to be white calla lilies. They are beautiful... they were on clearance for $.50......the glads are up too and seem to be good... These are my first calla lilies.

garyfla_gw

10 years ago

Hi
i'm in 10 florida and have just the opposite problem. does not cool enough to trigger dormancy so many bulbs including callas tend to grow but don't flower
You'll have the same problem if treated as a house plant.
Obviously doesn't require much of a chill as they grow many in 8/9 florida
this doesn't stop the box stores from selling them though lol Even see tulips daffodils which require at least 6 weeks below 40lol. check out the Pacific bulb society website gives you parameters on various bulbs requirements help you make better choices on what and how you want to grow ?? gary

crunchpa

10 years ago

I am in zone 5b and I leave them in the ground also. I typically will dig a couple up just in case. No issues with the ones I have left in though. The undisturbed ones have spread nicely. I think I will dig and separate some of those. We get 100 inches of snow. I am sure it helps

Cela

10 years ago

Wow, I'm glad I found this site...some good stuff on here! I'm on my first garden and planted callas and dahlias under the advertising delusion that they are perennials. Live and learn,eh? I'm in zone 7 and I'm gonna go for broke and let them lie in the ground, since a lot of you have had success. I'll keep my fingers crossed! One question though, does anyone know why one of my glads grew up to face the wall?? I didn't know they are like toast that has to be buttered on the right side, LOL! I also ended up with a four faced daisy!?! I guess it must be my sparkling personality...
Cela

'Blackjack' Calla Lily in Zone 5 From Lowes

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azngrnthumbs

mrbrownthumb
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susanlynne48

azngrnthumbs

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karyn1

anna_lisa

susanlynne48

judys1_suddenlink_net

Haywoodmom

Haywoodmom

garyfla_gw

crunchpa

Cela

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'Blackjack' Calla Lily in Zone 5 From Lowes

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