This is a very fine plant ideal for growing in marshy soil or as a pond marginal in water up to 12in (30cm) in depth.
Water-dragon or wild calla has fleshy, jointed stalks and heart-shaped leaves on upright stems. The flowers are white with a hint of green, on a round spadix. Growing in water among oblong heart-shaped leaves, is a broad white spathe around a spadix covered with tiny yellow flowers. A bright white, elliptic spathe partially surrounds the spadix. The spathe/spadix is held on a 4-5 in. stem above forking, creeping, partially exposed rootstocks. The fruit is a red berry.
This perennial, a more northerly species than the other arums in the East, is also found in Eurasia. It is very showy when in flower and, later, when bearing its fruit. The genus name Calla, its meaning uncertain, was used by Pliny; the species epithet palustris means of marshes. (info source: wildflower.org)
Genus - Calla
Species - Palustris
Common name - Water Arum
Pre-Treatment - Not-required
Hardiness zones - 2 - 6
Height - 1'-2' / 0.30 - 0.60 m
Spread - 1'-2' / 0.30 - 0.60 m
Plant type - Perennial
Vegetation type - Deciduous
Exposure - Partial Shade
Growth rate - Medium
Soil PH - Acidic
Soil type - Humus-rich
Water requirements - Medium to High, wet sites
Landscape uses - Water Plant, Rain Garden, Boggy areas
Germination rate - 60%
Bloom season - Summer
Leaf / Flower color - Green / White
Useful Info | |
Germination | Best sown in late summer or early in the end of winter in a cold frame in pots standing in about 3cm of water. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in trays of water in the greenhouse for at least their first winter, planting them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. |