description Wild Calla Overview
Wild calla (Calla palustris) is a perennial wetland plant found across northern temperate and boreal regions of Europe, Asia, and North America. It grows in shallow water, bogs, marshes, and the margins of ponds, producing a white spathe around a short, club-shaped spadix of small flowers. The plant belongs to the arum family, Araceae, but it is not a true member of the genus Zantedeschia, whose ornamental species are commonly called calla lilies.
insights Ranking position
Wild Calla ranks #74 of 341 in the Wildflower ranking, behind Yellow Wild Indigo, ahead of Wreath Goldenrod.
help Wild Calla FAQ
Is wild calla the same plant as a florist's calla lily?
No, wild calla is Calla palustris, a northern wetland plant and the only species in the genus Calla. Florists' calla lilies belong to the African genus Zantedeschia.
Is Calla palustris poisonous?
Yes, like many members of the arum family, it contains irritating calcium oxalate crystals. Eating raw tissue can cause burning and swelling of the mouth, so the plant should be kept away from children and pets likely to chew it.
What is the white petal-like part of wild calla?
The white structure is a spathe, a modified leaf surrounding the short spadix. The plant's many tiny flowers are crowded onto that central spadix rather than forming a single conventional flower.
Can wild calla grow in an ordinary garden border?
Calla palustris needs saturated, acidic or boggy conditions and is better suited to pond margins, marsh gardens and shallow water. A typical border that dries between watering will not reproduce its boreal wetland habitat.
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