Understanding Calla Lilies Season and Growing Tips

Calla lilies are a popular choice for gardeners, but their unique growing requirements can be a bit tricky to navigate.

They thrive in well-draining soil and full sun to partial shade, which means they love basking in the warm sunlight but can also tolerate some shade.

One key thing to keep in mind is that calla lilies are typically grown from rhizomes, which are underground stems that produce new growth.

In temperate climates, calla lilies tend to bloom from mid to late summer, around July to September.

Growing calla lilies is a bit like welcoming a warm-weather friend to your garden. Native to southern Africa, these beautiful flowers love the heat and won't grow happily until the soil has warmed up a bit.

To plant in spring, wait until all danger of frost is past. This is crucial for the health of your calla lilies.

You'll want to choose a spot with good drainage, as calla lilies don't like wet feet. Enrich the soil with compost, organic fertilizer, and some bone meal to give them a nutrient-rich start.

Plant the bulbs, which look like a ginger root or gladiolus bulb, so that the pointed eyes or growing points face up.

Worth a look: Lily Flower Growing

Calla lilies are in bloom from late January to mid-April, with peak bloom occurring from mid-February to mid-March.

If you visit too early, there won't be many flowers, and if you visit too late, they'll all be wilted and brown. The best time to see them is during the peak bloom period, which is typically in mid-March.

Getting there early is a good idea, as the crowds tend to arrive later in the day. We visited in mid-March and saw plenty of calla lilies, but if we had visited a week or two prior, they would have been in perfect condition.

Intriguing read: Why Won't My Calla Lilies Bloom

The best time to visit Calla Lily Valley is during the blooming season, which typically occurs from late January to mid-April.

If you want to catch the calla lilies in their peak bloom, visit from mid-February to mid-March. This is when the flowers are usually in perfect condition.

Visit too early and there won't be many flowers, and visit too late and they'll all be wilted and browning. We visited in mid-March and while some of the calla lilies were wilted, there were still plenty left standing tall.

The earlier you go, the better. There'll be far less crowds and parking will be way easier. Plus, lighting will be optimal for photos! We got to Calla Lily Valley around 10am and there were only a handful of people down by the California calla lilies.

If you want higher chances of having Calla Lily Valley all to yourself, go during the week. The coastline experiences fog in the early AM, but it typically burns off by mid-day.

For your interest: Do Calla Lilies Go Dormant

The hike to Calla Lily Valley at Garrapata Beach is more like a scenic coastal walk, and I'm not complaining about that one tiny bit.

It's super short, about ½ mile round trip, with only a short decline from the top of the bluffs to the valley.

A different take: Lily of the Valley

Be sure to look for Garrapata Trail right on Highway 1, it's the one with an "18" on it.

The trail is well-maintained and has a clear path taking you down to Calla Lily Valley, just follow the zigzag trail.

You'll find Calla Lily Valley down a flight of stairs, but be prepared for muddy and rocky terrain, with some poison ivy thrown in.

Cover up and try super hard not to touch any of the poison ivy or poison oak, and stick to the trail.

There's a rushing creek that flows right through the valley, although it was pretty dried up when I visited.

Be extra careful, especially when crossing the janky wooden plank bridge, and watch where you step as the ground can be rocky.

I wore sandals and had to watch where I stepped when we got closer to Calla Lily Valley, lots of rocks meaning I could have easily stubbed my toe.

Related reading: When to Transplant Lilies of the Valley

Summer is the perfect time to bring out the colors and add some vibrancy to your outdoor spaces. The golden glow of the sun shines bright, and nature is in full bloom, making it an ideal time to incorporate calla lilies into your decor.

Calla lilies are a favorite among those who love adorning the outdoors with pops of color. Their form and variety of colors, ranging from whites to bright pink and yellow, make them a perfect addition to any space.

Incorporating calla lilies into your outdoor spaces is a great way to add style and texture. These perennials thrive in the summer heat, making them an ideal choice for outdoor decor.

Every space looks better with a splash of color, and calla lilies definitely know how to bring that to your outdoor spaces.

Calla lilies are relatively low-maintenance, but they do require some care to thrive. Be sure to plant in a spot with good drainage, and enrich the soil with compost, organic fertilizer, and bone meal.

To keep your calla lilies healthy, water them well and as needed to keep the soil moist as they establish themselves. You can also cut flowers without hurting the plant, and leave the leaves intact after blooming is finished to feed the bulbs.

If you live in zones 3-7, dig up the bulb/rhizomes after the first frost and let them air dry for several days before storing them in a cool, dark place. This will help them survive the winter and be ready to replant when the weather warms up again.

You can freely cut the flowers after they've finished blooming, it won't harm the plant.

It's essential to leave the leaves intact, as they'll continue to feed the bulbs until they yellow.

If you live in zones 8-11, your callas will enter a dormant period for several months before beginning another season.

In zones 3-7, dig up the bulb/rhizomes after the first frost and let them air dry for several days.

Store the bulbs in a cool, dark place in paper bags, ready to replant when winter's chill has passed.

Calla lilies can thrive in containers, where they don't mind being root bound.

Plant them as you would in the ground, but keep in mind that starting them indoors can give you a jump start on blooms.

Fertilizer is a crucial part of calla lily care. Begin fertilizing your calla lilies in spring when their new growth begins.

Using a controlled or slow-release fertilizer is key. Sprinkle the fertilizer evenly on the soil surface around each calla lily, using 4 tablespoons for a 4-square-foot area, and then water the soil.

To give you a better idea, a garden bed that is 2 feet wide by 2 feet long is 4 square feet. So, if you have a bed of this size, you'll need 4 tablespoons of fertilizer.

Fertilize every three months in spring and summer, and then discontinue fertilizing in late summer.

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