What Is the Meaning of the Calla Lily Flower?
Throughout history, most flowers have been used to convey various sentiments. The calla lily is a flower that is gifted to express purity, sympathy or appreciation. Though they come in many colors, the meaning does not change with the hue. Ancient Romans often kept calla lilies in pots inside the house. When they bloomed, it was considered to be a signal of the coming spring. Does this Spark an idea?
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Purchasing Calla Lilies
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Calla lilies are available in almost as many shades as roses and can be given as potted plants which can eventually be planted outdoors. They have an exceptionally long lifespan as cut flowers and look quite dramatic and exotic in flower arrangements. White and pink blooms are extremely popular for use in both weddings and funerals.
If you need a large quantity of cut calla lilies, make arrangements in advance, as most florists generally have a limited stock of them at any given time. Rhizomes or bulbs can be obtained from garden supply stores.
Growing Calla Lilies
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Calla lilies are easy to grow from rhizomes. Rhizomes are bulblike structures beneath the plant. The plant produces more of these "bulbs" in the hopes that they will grow into new plants.
Using a small trowel, separate the rhizomes from the parent plant and relocate to a new spot. After relocating, keep the soil damp. Overwatering will result in the rotting of the rhizome.
Never picky, these flowers can survive in most soil types, provided the climate is humid. The plants require very little care and can bloom year-round under ideal conditions. Calla lilies are prolific and are treated as weeds in many of their native countries, where they thrive in wetlands.
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Genus and Species
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Calla lilies are neither in the Calla genus, nor are they lilies. Calla lily is the widely used name for the Zantedeschia genus and the Araceae family. They are native to Africa and are often cleared away to make room for agricultural pursuits. In Africa, they are viewed as little more than an interesting weed. There are at least 28 different varieties of the plant.
Warning
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All calla lilies are poisonous, with the roots containing the greatest amount of toxin. Plants should be kept out of reach of small children and pets. In the event of ingestion, consult emergency medical professionals immediately.
Symptoms of exposure include irritation and/or swelling of the mouth, acute vomiting, burning of the eyes and diarrhea. There is a serious risk of airway constriction.
History
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The calla lily has played an important role in art; many well-known artists have used the flower as a recurring motif in much of their work. Sigmund Freud's work in the field of psychiatry related the bloom's appearance to sexual organs, and artist Georgia O'Keefe depicted the flowers often and in such a way that her work was construed to be sexual. By the time of the Great Depression era, she had become known as "Lady of the Lilies." To this day, calla lilies still carry the connotation of being a very personal and sensual flower.
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References
- Photo Credit calla lilly image by hazel proudlove from Fotolia.com
