Calla Lily in Zone 8a & 8b
Zantedeschia aethiopica
Yes, calla lily grows in zones 8a and 8b and comes back each year. Plant it outside Apr 1–Apr 8.
When to plant calla lily in zone 8b
Zones 8a and 8b 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 | Apr 1–Apr 8 |
| 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 8b. See the details below.
Plant alongside it in zone 8b
These go outside within two weeks of calla lily in zone 8b, so one planting day can cover them.
- NasturtiumApr 1–Apr 8
- MarigoldApr 1–Apr 8
- Ageratum (Flossflower)Apr 1–Apr 8
- AmaryllisApr 1–Apr 8
- Annual Geranium (Pelargonium)Apr 1–Apr 8
- Butterfly Weed (Asclepias)Apr 1–Apr 8
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 8's season
Zone 8b's frost-free window runs about 230 days, from March 25 to November 10. 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 8b 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 8b 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 (your zone) | 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 | 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 8b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a bloom.
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