Zantedeschia aethiopica
Calla-lily
(c) Dominicus Johannes Bergsma, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Araceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Zantedeschia aethiopica (Calla-lily) is a non-native California herb in the Araceae family, recognized by South African ornamental introduction, only Zantedeschia species naturalized in California.
Calla-lily is a naturalized perennial found in coastal regions including northern California Coast, San Francisco Bay Area, and southern California Coast in disturbed areas and near former habitations at elevations below 300 meters. Flowering from March to June, this plant produces white flowers with a distinctive funnel-shaped pale green bract that curves slightly at the tip. Growing with large, glossy leaves up to 45 centimeters long and 25 centimeters wide, it forms impressive clumps with sturdy, arching petioles reaching up to 9 meters tall. Its broad, heart-shaped leaves create a lush, tropical appearance with deep green coloration and smooth margins. The distinctive white spathe-like flower surrounds a central yellow spadix, creating an elegant and recognizable silhouette typical of this well-known ornamental plant.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: South African ornamental introduction, only Zantedeschia species naturalized in California
Habitat and range
Habitat: Disturbed areas, near former habitations
Elevation: < 300 m
California counties: Santa Cruz, Sonoma, San Mateo, Riverside, Orange, San Diego, Los Angeles, Marin, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Humboldt, Mendocino, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Santa Clara
Outside California: native to southern Africa
Bloom period
Zantedeschia aethiopica blooms Mar-Jun.
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
How to tell it apart
vs Arum: Zantedeschia has pure white bracts on both surfaces; Arum has pale yellow-green on the outside.; vs Colocasia: Zantedeschia has a prominent white funnel bract; Colocasia has elephant-ear leaves without showy bracts.; vs Peltandra: Zantedeschia has a wide-open white funnel bract; Peltandra has a green, tightly-wrapped narrow bract.; vs Spathiphyllum: Zantedeschia grows outdoors near old gardens; Spathiphyllum is a houseplant with upright white paddle-shaped bracts.; vs Calla: Zantedeschia and Calla are the same plant—garden white calla lily.
Frequently asked questions
Is Zantedeschia aethiopica native to California?
No. Zantedeschia aethiopica is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Zantedeschia aethiopica bloom?
Zantedeschia aethiopica blooms Mar-Jun.
Where in California does Zantedeschia aethiopica grow?
Zantedeschia aethiopica occurs in Santa Cruz, Sonoma, San Mateo, Riverside, Orange, San Diego, Los Angeles, Marin and other counties, at elevations of < 300 m.
What plant family does Zantedeschia aethiopica belong to?
Zantedeschia aethiopica is in the Araceae family, genus Zantedeschia.
Is Zantedeschia aethiopica invasive in California?
Zantedeschia aethiopica is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.