You are probably right, but I do overwinter tuberous begonia tubers, and dry root geraniums, so adding a few of these may not be too much of a problem. Of course if I end up loving them, and want too many it could become a problem!

If you don't mind overwintering chores, there is no other reason why you shouldn't grow your own callas. Speaking as a z9 grower, they weren't what I would consider tough bulbs so I can't help you re: which are best varieties. Perhaps others can help with that, Good luck

Hi

Have always loved callas but have just the opposite problem. No cool /cold rest period so they tend to waste away over time. I see gorgeous ones in 8/9 florida apparently just enough climate change . There are dozens if not hundreds of varieties so maybe there are some for your area though I doubt any would appreciate a hard freeze?? gary

Maybe this year I'll start with just a few and put in pots. They will be easy to lift in the winter then! I also have to lift my cannas, dahlias, and tuberous begonias, and then I also pull my geraniums to save dry root. I do like saving the money rather than re-buying all new plants each year. By now its gotten down to a system and doesn't seem like so much work ! I am always so excited for spring after waiting the 4+ months for it to warm up again!!

I will preface by saying I'm no expert...but I live in MN & have successfully grown canna & calla lilies in my yard for a few years. I've tried both planting bulbs/tubers in the ground in late spring & also started in pots under lights inside beginning April-ish & then transplanted to ground when it is warm. I dig both lilies up before first frost (just got them all up about 2 weeks ago), shake dirt off, give them a few days to dry out (outside if it's not wet or in my basement), then pack them with peat moss in paper grocery bags & keep them in the basement against the cement floor (cooler than the rest of the house). They come back beautifully & I love the bit of "tropics" in the yard! Have had similar overwintering success with caladiums as well & am trying my hand at begonias this year. The effort is worth it to me...interesting note, the actual canna lily tubers/bulbs (which is it?) have been carried on from my grandparents garden approx 30+ years...they "multiply" underground so each year I dig up a few more than I planted, as do my relatives, and over the years everyone has had that little piece of my grandparents garden to plant. It gives me the energy to dig them all up again in the fall! I've been told calla lilies will last as long & can be divided similarly as well. Hope to try that this spring & have even more to plant!

Idk about buying them now & overwintering from delivery, my assumption is they would do fine in the peat moss/cool/dark the same as the ones I dig up? But I'm not sure. I was recently given a few dozen tulip bulbs I am not planting & have packed them in my "overwinter" peat/paper bag medium as well, hoping they will be fine to plant next year...

so good to hear your experiences with the calla lilies! I ended up buying them now but they will wait to ship them to me till more towards spring! You probably have a similar growing zone to me so I am wondering when you start your lilies indoors? The lady from CalBulbs also told me I could stagger their planting so that I would have staggered blooming. Have you tried this? Did you leave your callas in pots or put them in the ground? If in the ground, what did you plant near them for after they're done blooming? Did they get unsightly with yellowed leaves? Thanks for any advice or tips you can give me!!

I have not started calla indoors yet, but cannas I started end of April/beginning of May indoors in pots. I would think calla would be similar. I do also plant just the bulbs/tubers in the ground come spring so there is a bit of a staggered bloom from the transplanted ones started indoors to the ones planted directly in the ground.

I planted my calla in the ground in the front of the bed, I honestly didn't pay much attention to what is surrounding, I like the colorful "mess" if you will...this year they were between some pincushion flowers & shorter bright annuals. The foliage lasted a long time & to me was beautiful! I'm not sure the exact type of calla I have as I got them from a neighbor but the leaves are speckled white. They only browned shortly before I pulled them up, mid-October.

blytheinspired, you are so helpful! I was thinking I'd have to start them all in pots, but hearing that you put yours right into the soil sounds great! I bought a bunch and am hoping to give some away as gifts and these I will start in pots. But to know callas will have time to bloom even if planted in the ground is great news. Those will be the ones I will stagger to get blooms throughout the summer in my yard! That is great the foliage lasted all summer! Your white speckled leaves sound pretty!

1. Yes, they bloomed beautifully in the ground for me in central MN - I had enough blooms to watch in the yard & have extra to cut & have in water at the kitchen table! A beautiful flower.

how many flowers will come from each plant?

how many calla bulbs did you plant?

I only have a handful of the calla as I am hoping to continue to divide them. I would say I plant about 10 bulbs...a small group of them in the front of the flower bed. I honestly can't say I remember how many flowers came from each plant...

I am now more excited than ever to plant these this spring! I appreciate your sharing your experience! Oh and do we fertilize them with something specific?

I personally just work some compost in to the soil each spring & it has worked well. I just water as needed from there!