really cold hardy calla?!?!?!?!?!

20 years ago

Hi everyone. I put this in the wrong section originally (lillies) so am pasting it over here. Thanks in advance for any advice! Pasted:

Hello,

Here's an interesting question for you experts out there. I accidentally left a calla lilly in the ground last fall (an atrocity, I know). The area is along a standard chain link fence. On the other side of this fence is a newly designed area that is 'mulched' with reddish brown stone. The area is not protected in any way. Well, today I was walking by and holy crap that calla was alive and well- although not blooming. I'm zone 5/6 ohio! Not sure exactly which calla it is, but have it narrowed down to either a pure white or yellow flower. They are the larger callas with the 'windows' in the leaves.

So what should I think of this development? Sheer luck with no chance of repetition? Did the stone mulch keep it just warm enough to make it? Even if the stone did warm the soil some, could it possibly have been enough to keep a calla alive through an ohio winter? Or do I have something special here?

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Comments (3)

hoe_hoe_hoe
20 years ago
That's pretty wild. I don't know too much about callas but multiply it if you can, leave ONLY A PART out in future winters and test it. Also share with friends/family in zones 6 and 7 where it might do better but would still be an improvement on normal hardiness which I think is probably like an 8.
marquest
20 years ago
I do not know if you had the winter we had last year. But what we had last winter is not what I would call PA zone 5/6 winter it was more 7/8. I had roses blooming Thanksgiving.

I had a couple of tender plants I left out in pots that survived so I know it was a warm winter. LOL
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bobcat
Original Author
20 years ago
Yeah, we had a warm winter too. But isn't it really more about the highs and lows when dealing with something like this? I have since seen on one sight (who are in it for the mula, so Im not gonna advertise for them) that a person claims to be able to over winter them in the ground in zone 6 year after year. Maybe its not so special. Yet maybe it is more proof that callas are ground hardy to zone 6 and more people should try it!?!?! I will be trying it again with more of them, me thinks.