Flower Facts: The Calla Lily - The Lily That's Not Really A Lily

Calla lilies  is one of the most popular flowers for floral arrangements and home decoration. Their cone-shaped blooms and rich colors make them stand out from other flowers, and their resilience makes them a florist favorite. But the Calla Lily is more than just a pretty face—it carries deep meaning too. Below is the most comprehensive guide to this beautiful flower.

GiveGift Boutique (GGB), established in 2008, specializes in flower delivery in Hong Kong, offering Calla Lily bouquets, [floral arrangements](link to floral arrangement category), and [table flower subscriptions](link to table flower category) with free delivery across Hong Kong.

General Facts about the Calla Lily

Callas lilies are also known as arum lily, trumpet lily, or pig lily. They grow natively in Southern Africa and come in shades of green, pink, red, purple, yellow, orange, and white. They grow from the late spring and can last for weeks. They’re so resilient that calla lilies can continue to grow in water and even survive frost! Calla lilies are grown from a bulb, just like a tulip, and are generally easy to grow and maintain.

GGB Tip: Our Calla Lily bouquets use freshly imported blooms, designed by professional florists to ensure they arrive at your door in perfect condition. [Learn About Our Freshness Guarantee →](link to service page)

Additional Facts about the Calla Lily

• The calla lily is a perennial bulb.
• Calla is a flowering genus of twenty-eight species originating in Africa and growing mostly in marshy areas.
• Calla lilies are grown from bulbous roots with finger-like growths, called a tuber.
• Calla lily roots are poisonous to both people and pets if ingested.
• Safety Note: While beautiful, Calla Lilies are toxic to pets. GiveGift Boutique offers a [Pet-Safe Flower Guide](link to article/FAQ) to help you choose [floral arrangements](link to floral arrangement category) suitable for homes with pets.

GiveGift Boutique Calla Lily Floral Arrangement | Hong Kong Table Flower Delivery

A whimsical flower arrangement with arching yellow calla lilies and English ivy, with purple peony and lisianthus.

Naming Mix-up

What makes this flower so unique is that, despite its name, the calla lily is not, in fact a lily. The calla lily was first cataloged in the mid 1700s by a Swedish botanist named Carolus Linnaeus. Carolus made a classification error while he was naming the species. Later, the German botanist Karl Koch fixed this mistake and created the genus zantedeschia that the calla lily properly falls into but its original name had already stuck.

Related: Flower Facts: All About Lilies

GiveGift Boutique French Calla Lily Table Arrangement | Hong Kong Office Flower Delivery

Reddish-pink calla lilies in a decorative vase.

Calla Lily Flower Meaning and Use

Calla lilies have become immensely popular flowers for weddings, romantic arrangements, and holiday arrangements, and even funerals, or any occasion that involves major transitions, rebirths and new beginnings. The word calla comes from the Greek word for beautiful, and it’s easy to see why.

For Christians, the calla lily has been used as a symbol of Jesus’ resurrection as well as being depicted with the Virgin Mary or the Angel of Annunciation. Meaning that the calla lily has long been associated with holiness, faith, purity, youth, innocence, and rebirth.

From floriography, which was prominent in the Victorian era, classic white calla lilies are traditional symbols of divinity, marital bliss, and true devotion. Calla lilies actually are also used to mark a 6th wedding anniversary. White calla lilies are also used at funerals as well to represent sympathy and the purification of the departed.

Related: The Language and Meaning of Flowers

GiveGift Boutique French Calla Lily Gift Bouquet | Hong Kong Birthday Flower Delivery

A French-designed flower bouquet of red calla lilies with red Leucadendron and eustoma.

Calla Lily Colour Meanings

• White Calla Lily - holiness, faith, purity, youth, innocence, and rebirth.
• Pink Calla Lily - admiration and appreciation.
• Purple Calla Lily – royalty, charm, and passion.
• Yellow Calla Lily - gratitude.
• Black Calla Lily - elegance and mystery.
• Red Calla Lily - beauty and courage.

Which color is your favorite? GiveGift Boutique offers Calla Lilies in every shade—from classic white to mysterious black—to add a unique touch to your next [flower order](link to flower category). Free delivery across Hong Kong, with same-day delivery available!

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