'Black Calla Lily' is a flowering perennial in the arum family that is native to eastern Mediterranean areas. This plant spreads by offsets and can be difficult to eradicate once established. It is easy to grow and is tolerant of different soil types as long as they are well-drained. It will grow in sun or shade but flowering is best with more sun. The trowel-shaped foliage emerges from the tuber in the fall and forms a clump that stays green all winter. It is important to have it in a very well-drained site. In spring the dark purplish-black spadix enclosed in a purplish-black spathe appears. The outside of the spathe is light green. The plant exudes the odor of rotting fruit to attract the flies that pollinate it. The berry-like fruits turn bright red at maturity. The plant is dormant during the summer. Use in a rock garden, border, naturalized area or containers. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: C aterpillars, brown spot, and problems related to overwatering or root rot.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
A deep purple spadix surrounded by a red purple-brown to black spathe.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit detail
Vibrant red seeds.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Syria, Lebanon, Jordan
Wildlife value
Deer resistant
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Leaves
Edibility
The leaves can be eaten if cooked and are used in Middle Eastern diets.
Uses (ethnobotany)
Used in Middle Eastern herbal medicine
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Naturalized Area
Landscape theme
Drought Tolerant Garden
Design feature
Border
Garden tags
#showy flowers #black flowers #problem for cats #rock garden #drought tolerant #naturalized area #deer resistant #poisonous #large leaves #problem for dogs #problem for horses #spadix #full sun tolerant #border planting #partial shade tolerant #perennial
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Poisonous to Humans; Problem for Cats; Problem for Dogs; Problem for Horses
Resistant to
Deer; Drought
Propagation
Division
Poison severity
Medium
Poison parts
Flowers; Fruits; Leaves; Roots; Sap/Juice; Stems
Poison symptoms
Eating small amounts of the raw plant causes mucous membrane irritation, and burning. Consuming larger amounts causes nausea, diarrhea, cramping, excessive drooling, vomiting (not horses), and difficulty swallowing.