--- title: "Calla lily: vase life, season, meaning & care | Floreboard flower guide" url: https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/calla/ language: en last_reviewed: 2026-10-31 publisher: Floreboard --- # Calla lily: vase life, season, meaning and care for florists ZANDER 5D ✂ ⊔_ ⊥ ⨀ 7–10 days ☠❄ Calla lily (Zantedeschia, family Araceae) usually lasts 7–10 days in a vase. In season: Year-round. Fragrance: none. Typical role in a design: focal flower. - **Botanical name:** Zantedeschia - **Family:** Araceae - **Accepted name:** Zantedeschia Spreng. [POWO](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:331310-2) · [GBIF](https://www.gbif.org/species/2868790) · [Catalogue of Life](https://www.catalogueoflife.org/data/taxon/8W4SW) - **Role in a design:** Focal flower - **Vase life:** 7–10 days - **In season:** Year-round - **Fragrance:** None - **Colours:** [white](https://floreboard.com/en/guides/flowers-by-color/white/), [yellow](https://floreboard.com/en/guides/flowers-by-color/yellow/), [pink](https://floreboard.com/en/guides/flowers-by-color/pink/), [purple](https://floreboard.com/en/guides/flowers-by-color/purple/), [orange](https://floreboard.com/en/guides/flowers-by-color/orange/) - **Meaning:** Purity and devotion - **Type:** Cut flower - **Pets:** Mildly toxic to cats and dogs if eaten ## Cut flower commercial monograph 🌿 Taxonomy & Origin - **Official name:** Calla lily - **Botanical name:** Zantedeschia - **Family:** Araceae - **Aliases:** None - **Native origin:** Tropical Americas, Africa and Mediterranean wetlands 🌸 Morphology & Visuals - **Growth habit:** Bulbous or tuberous perennial with fleshy, upright succulent scapes. - **Stem length:** 50–70 cm - **Natural colours:** White, Yellow, Pink, Purple, Orange ⏳ Phenology & Harvest - **Natural bloom:** Natural flowering in spring and summer - **Commercial supply:** Available year-round via commercial greenhouse production - **Harvest stage:** Harvest when buds show true colour and outer petals loosen (Stage 2–3). ✂️ Postharvest & Floristry - **Vase life:** 7–10 days - **Cold storage:** Cold storage suitable (2–5°C constant temperature, high humidity). - **Special care:** Use shallow water: the fleshy stems turn mushy and split when submerged. Stems can be curved gently by warming them in your hands. Despite the name it is not a true lily. - **Application:** Serves primarily as Focal flower in modern floristry, ideal for table arrangements and event designs. - **Market notes:** Use shallow water: the fleshy stems turn mushy and split when submerged. Stems can be curved gently by warming them in your hands. Despite the name it is not a true lily. For florists ## Try Calla lily in a client design We fill in the brief from this page. No stock yet? Load the sample flowers — Calla lily included — and see a recipe, quote and preview image in about a minute. New shops get 30 free credits. Try it as a design — free ## Care and conditioning - Use shallow water: the fleshy stems turn mushy and split when submerged. Stems can be curved gently by warming them in your hands. Despite the name it is not a true lily. - Calla lily is mildly toxic to cats and dogs: remind clients with pets to keep it out of reach. ## Where it fits | Use | | Why | | --- | --- | --- | | Hospital visits and condolences | ✓ | Not strongly scented and no heavy pollen. Check that the ward accepts fresh flowers. | | Weddings | ✓ | No pollen staining, and it lasts long enough to make up a day ahead. | | Dining tables and restaurants | ✓ | Little or no scent, so it will not compete with the meal. | | Homes with cats or dogs | ! | Mildly toxic if eaten — advise keeping it out of reach. | | Making ahead and next-day delivery | ✓ | About 7–10 days in a vase — fine to make up a day ahead. | ## Pairs well with These are available at the same time as calla lily and have a similar vase life (foliage lasts at least as long), so the arrangement ages evenly: | Flower | Role | Vase life | | --- | --- | --- | | [Baby's breath](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/gypsophila/) | Filler flower | 7–10 days | | [Bouvardia](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/bouvardia/) | Filler flower | 7–10 days | | [Dendrobium orchid](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/dendrobium/) | Line flower | 10–14 days | | [Love-lies-bleeding](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/amaranthus/) | Line flower | 7–10 days | | [Eucalyptus](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/eucalyptus/) | Foliage | 10–14 days | | [Monstera leaf](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/monstera/) | Foliage | 10–14 days | ## Substitutes When calla lily is unavailable, out of season or priced up before a holiday, these fill the same role at the same time of year: | Flower | Vase life | In season | Fragrance | Pets | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Lisianthus](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/lisianthus/) | 7–14 days | Year-round | None | — | | [Gerbera daisy](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/gerbera/) | 6–10 days | Year-round | None | ✓ ASPCA non-toxic | | [Lily](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/lily/) | 7–10 days | Year-round | Strong | ⚠ toxic to cats | | [Rose](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/rose/) | 5–7 days | Year-round | Light | ✓ ASPCA non-toxic | ## FAQ ### How long does calla lily last in a vase? Usually 7–10 days, depending on variety, origin and conditioning. ### When is calla lily in season? It is available year-round. ### How do you keep calla lily fresh? Use shallow water: the fleshy stems turn mushy and split when submerged. Stems can be curved gently by warming them in your hands. Despite the name it is not a true lily. ### What does calla lily symbolise? Purity and devotion. Flower meanings are popular conventions and vary between cultures. ### What colours does calla lily come in? Naturally in white, yellow, pink, purple, orange (not counting dyed stems). ### Is calla lily toxic to cats or dogs? Mildly toxic to cats and dogs if eaten. ### What can I use instead of calla lily? Flowers with the same role, an overlapping season and a similar vase life: Lisianthus, Gerbera daisy, Lily, Rose. ## Related guides - [Cut flower care and conditioning guide](https://floreboard.com/en/guides/cut-flower-care/) - [Pet-safe flowers for cats and dogs](https://floreboard.com/en/guides/pet-safe-flowers/) - [Unscented and low-pollen flowers](https://floreboard.com/en/guides/unscented-flowers/) - [Flower meanings: the language of flowers](https://floreboard.com/en/guides/flower-meanings/) ## In season at the same time [Rose](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/rose/) · [Lily](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/lily/) · [Carnation](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/carnation/) · [Gerbera daisy](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/gerbera/) · [Lisianthus](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/lisianthus/) · [Baby's breath](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/gypsophila/) · [Bird of paradise](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/strelitzia/) · [Orchids (cut)](https://floreboard.com/en/flowers/orchid/) Last reviewed: 2026-10-31. Reference values from common trade practice. Real results vary with variety, origin and conditioning. Pet toxicity follows the ASPCA toxic and non-toxic plants list. [ASPCA](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants) · [About our data](https://floreboard.com/en/about/)