Zantedeschia aethiopica
Arum Lily
a perennial evergreen member of the Zantedeschia genus in the family Araceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Araceae
- Genus
- Zantedeschia
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- evergreen
- Growth rate
- moderate
- Height
- 1 m
- Spread
- 0.6 m
- Flower type
- monoecious
Uses
Toxicity
Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Many plants in this family are poisonous raw, due to the presence of calcium oxylate crystals. If eaten raw, this toxin gives you a sensation as if hundreds of tiny needles are sticking into the mouth, tongue etc. However, it is easily destroyed by thoroughly cooking or drying the plant. Although no specific mention has been seen for this plant it is wise to assume that it is poisonous in its raw state.
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Young leaves - cooked[2][3]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.
- Plant part
- Leaves
Environment
- Range
- S. Africa. Locally naturalized in S. and W. Europe[6].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- aquatic
- Hardiness
- Zone 8+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse[K]. Pre-soak stored seed for 24 hours in warm water and sow in moist soil in spring in a greenhouse[4]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division, preferably in the spring[4]. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the summer or the following spring.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Requires a very rich soil in full sun or shade[1][4]. Best when growing in full sun[8]. Succeeds in wet soils or water up to 30cm deep[1][4]. This species is only hardy to between -5 and -10°c[4], although some selected forms, such as 'Crowborough' and 'Green Spathe', are hardy in most parts of Britain if they are planted deeply in shallow water to about 30 cm deep[1][8][4]. It is best to cover plants with bracken in the winter in order to protect against exceptional frosts[8]. Members of this genus seem to be immune to the predations of rabbits[5]
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0 460 86048 8
? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00
Adamson. and Salter. Flora of the Cape Peninsula.
Phillips. R. and Rix. M. Bulbs Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30253-1