Calla Lily in Zone 10a & 10b
Zantedeschia aethiopica
Yes, calla lily grows in zones 10a and 10b and comes back each year. Plant it outside Feb 6–Feb 13.
When to plant calla lily in zone 10b
Zones 10a and 10b share the same average frost dates, so this page covers both.
Method: Direct sow: Direct-sow outside. It doesn't transplant well, or doesn't need the extra time indoors.
| Start indoors | Not typically started indoors |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Feb 6–Feb 13 |
| Estimated bloom | First real harvest the season after planting |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 2-3.5 ft.
Before you plant: Calla lily has a winter-hardiness note for zone 10b. See the details below.
Plant alongside it in zone 10b
These go outside within two weeks of calla lily in zone 10b, so one planting day can cover them.
- MarigoldFeb–May
- Ageratum (Flossflower)Feb 6–Feb 13
- AmaryllisFeb 6–Feb 13
- Annual Geranium (Pelargonium)Feb 6–Feb 13
- Campanula (Bellflower)Feb 6–Feb 13
- Castor BeanFeb 6–Feb 13
Calla lily is grown from a rhizome rather than seed, and where you live decides whether it is a permanent planting or a summer one.
How calla lily fits zone 10's season
Zone 10b's frost-free window runs about 324 days, from January 30 to December 20. Calla lily takes about 1 growing season to reach full flowering, so what matters here is how many of these seasons it gets, not whether one is long enough.
Calla lily is hardy in zones 8-10, so in zone 10b it stays in the ground through winter and comes back rather than being replanted. Allow about 2 ft of spread at maturity.
Calla Lily planting windows in every zone
Zone 10b is highlighted. Useful for comparing against a neighbouring zone, or for a garden somewhere else.
| Zone | Start indoors | Sow or plant out | Bloom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8a & 8b | Not usually | Apr 1–Apr 8 | First real harvest the season after planting |
| 9a & 9b | Not usually | Feb 22–Mar 1 | First real harvest the season after planting |
| 10a & 10b (your zone) | Not usually | Feb 6–Feb 13 | First real harvest the season after planting |
Good companions
No well-established companions for calla lily.
Where to buy calla lily bulbs
We haven't vetted bulb/tuber suppliers yet. Our seed-supplier list below doesn't carry these. The growing-guide source cited above is a good starting point for where to buy.
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See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing calla lily" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
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Growing Calla Lily in USDA zone 10b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.
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