garden

plant palette
NATURE, NURTURE
Care: Care will be simplicity incarnate if
you erase everything you know about Z
aethiopica, because its colorful cousins
are a whole different animal. Semi-aquatic
Z. aethiopica rhizomes thirst for watering
holes, but the more-colorful hybrids
stem from Z albomaculata, Z elliotiana,
Z rehmannii and others, which hail from
higher ground, form tubers and don't share
the drinking habit. Drainage is what they
demand. Any time between February and
June (but after danger of frost is past)
bury them 3 to 4 inches deep in porous
soil directly in the garden or in containers.
Give them water when the soil is slightly
30 GARDEN DESIGN APRIL 09
dry (but don't overdose — the new callas
dislike soggy soil), and they're good to go.
Eight weeks after planting, flower stalks
begin shooting up, and you'll be regaled by
blossoms for the next couple of months.
Before frost threatens in autumn or
early winter, whisk them indoors to rest
the tubers after their labors. If callas are
planted directly in beds, dig the tubers
from the garden or store them in their pots
in a dry 55°F environment, withholding
water for eight weeks or longer before
jump-starting the cycle again with light and
water. Zones: Although Z aethiopica has
been known to soldier on in Zones 8-10,
A CAPTAIN RENO®
The ideal for a calla is a cloak drawn closely around the inflorescence,
which describes Captain Reno® perfectly. With copious flowers
tucked within the white splashed leaves, the thick spathes are so
heavily pigmented pink that they blush nearly red. An added incentive
is that suggestive green spur on the tip, serving as a flourish.
< CAPTAIN ROMANCE®
Going full circle is what the new callas strive to do as far as flower
structure is concerned, and Captain Romance® does the perfect
pirouette. The flagship of the Kapiteyn collection, this calla's
credentials include candy-pink blossoms overlaid with syrupy
vermillion. But really, the process of unveiling each elongated cup
is what holds us spellbound. And the beauty of this hybrid is that it
blossoms over the long haul. In this instance, romance is recurring.
its colorful relatives are more comfortable
in Zones 9 and warmer. Or treat them
as tender perennials in colder climates.
Exposure: Callas bask in anything from
full sun to partial shade — bright, indirect
light being ideal. Dense shade might put
a damper on bud count, and scorching
midday summer sun can prove equally
challenging. Soil: The new color-soaked
hybrids prefer a well-drained, porous
soil. Sandy soils are simpatico if you add
fertilizer; clay soils can be tricky. Excessive
nitrogen will encourage a bounty of leaves
and long stems, squelching bud production.
In a fertile soil, no further food is needed.