About
A tuberous perennial with dark green, arrow-shaped, fleshy foliage flushed with purple-black and with a few silvery spots. The outer spathe and inner spadix of the bloom are both black.
About the genus
Zantedeschia can be deciduous or semi-evergreen, tuberous perennials with lance-shaped or arrow-shaped leaves and tiny yellow flowers forming a dense spike-like spadix, with a showy, hood-like spathe, sometimes followed by orange berry-like fruits
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeLoam
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH1C
Plant details
Plant typeBedding, Conservatory Greenhouse
HabitClump forming
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height1 year
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Coastal, Patio and container plants, Sub-tropical
ToxicityHarmful if eaten, skin/eye irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Harmful if eaten, skin/eye irritant - for further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Care notes
CultivationUse as summer bedding, planting in a moist, humus-rich, but well-drained soil in full sun. Lift and store overwinter in trays of peat-free compost in a cool, frost-free garage or shed and plant out tubers in spring after risk of frost has passed. Alternatively, grow in containers of peat-free, loam-based John Innes No2 potting compost and overwinter in a greenhouse or conservatory. See Zantedeschia cultivation
PruningDeadhead flowers and cut down yellowing foliage at the end of the season
PropagationPropagate by division in spring
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to aphids, thrips, glasshouse red spider mite or glasshouse whitefly
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to bacterial or fungal rots and a virus