Lakeshore Garden Centres Plant Finder

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

Description:

An extraordinary variety known for its near-black, deep maroon blooms on very dark purple-black stems, and white spotted green leaves with purple overtones and midribs; visually stunning in containers, or when massed in gardens or borders

Ornamental Features

Memories Calla Lily features bold deep purple trumpet-shaped flowers with burgundy overtones rising above the foliage from early summer to early fall. The flowers are excellent for cutting. Its attractive large glossy heart-shaped leaves remain dark green in colour with distinctive white spots and tinges of deep purple throughout the season. The deep purple stems are very colorful and add to the overall interest of the plant.

Landscape Attributes

Memories Calla Lily is an herbaceous annual with tall flower stalks held atop a low mound of foliage. Its relatively coarse texture can be used to stand it apart from other garden plants with finer foliage.

This is a high maintenance plant that will require regular care and upkeep, and should be cut back in late fall in preparation for winter. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Memories Calla Lily is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Memories Calla Lily will grow to be about 24 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 12 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 6 inches apart. Although it's not a true annual, this plant can be expected to behave as an annual in our climate if left outdoors over the winter, usually needing replacement the following year. As such, gardeners should take into consideration that it will perform differently than it would in its native habitat.

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It requires an evenly moist well-drained soil for optimal growth. To help this plant achive its best flowering performance, periodically apply a flower-boosting fertilizer from early spring through into the active growing season. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid, and parts of it are known to be toxic to humans and animals, so care should be exercised in planting it around children and pets. It can be propagated by division; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Memories Calla Lily is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.