Calla Lily

Calla Lily

Calla lilies may not be true lilies, but these blooms are as classy as the real deal. They’re beautiful, meaningful, and charming, so we’re not surprised calla lilies are popular floral gifts. Let’s learn more about these blooms below.

About Calla Lily

Calla lily is an elegant bloom with a long, rich history and symbolism. It’s a beautiful flower with distinctive trumpet-shaped petals. Most often, it grows in bogs and ponds, displaying its white blooms. But sometimes, you can find calla lilies in other colors such as yellow, pink, orange, green, purple, and even black.

Scientific Name

Zantedeschia aethiopica is a species of flowering plant that belongs in the Araceae family. It is commonly known as calla lily and arum lily, also nicknamed trumpet lily or pig lily.

Origin and History

Calla lilies are not true lilies even if they have “lily” in their names. The name simply stuck when botanist Carolus Linnaeus misnamed the flower while cataloguing it. Karl Koch later re-classified the flower in a new species called Zantedeschia. However, people already know the flower as “calla lily” by then.

Calla lilies originate from Africa and are exceptionally hardy plants capable of growing in water. These blooms can also survive frost conditions. 

“Calla lily” is a name derived from a Greek word meaning “beauty.” With how striking the flower looks, it is not surprising it earned the name that literally means beautiful.

Symbolism and Meaning

There were numerous symbolisms that calla lilies were associated with—faith, holiness, and purity. They also signify Jesus’s holiness and resurrection. However, these meanings were related to the white calla lily.

Different colours of calla lily mean something different such as purple for royalty, pink for appreciation, and white yellow for gratitude. In modern times, they are usually used in wedding bouquets. People also use them in celebrating the 6th wedding anniversary. 

These delicate blooms are also often used in funeral arrays to express sympathy for someone’s passing. Calla lilies are unique because you can communicate many ideas with the blooms.