Arum-Lily | Zantedeschia Aethiopica

Few plants capture elegance quite like the White Arum Lily, with its pure white spathes and golden-yellow spadix. In the Western Cape, this indigenous beauty flowers abundantly from late winter through spring (July to October), thriving in the region’s cool, rainy season. Its graceful blooms are iconic in gardens, wetlands, and floral arrangements, symbolizing purity and timeless style. Perfect for pond edges, damp garden spots, borders, and cut-flower displays, the arum lily is both ornamental and practical. It flourishes in semi-shade to full sun with consistently moist soil, making it a natural fit for Cape Town’s winter rainfall climate. Hardy, rewarding, and evergreen in sheltered spots, it brings year-round lush foliage and seasonal bursts of breathtaking flowers.

Invite this indigenous treasure into your garden and enjoy a plant that is as resilient as it is beautiful. The White Arum Lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica) is a must-have for anyone seeking effortless elegance. Grace your garden with the White Arum Lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica).

Why You’ll Love It

• Elegant white blooms from July to October in the Western Cape.
• Indigenous and perfectly adapted to local conditions.
• Excellent cut flower with long vase life.
• Thrives in damp spots, adding lush greenery year-round.
• Symbol of purity and grace, loved worldwide.

Plant & Care

Plant in moist, well-drained soil in semi-shade or full sun. Water regularly during the growing season, especially in drier areas. Remove spent flowers to encourage new blooms and cut back foliage if it becomes untidy. In colder inland regions, protect from frost or grow in containers that can be moved. Feed with compost or organic fertilizer in spring for vigorous growth.

Did You Know?

Although commonly called the “arum lily,” Zantedeschia aethiopica is neither a true arum nor a true lily. Its striking white “petal” is actually a modified leaf called a spathe, which surrounds the bright yellow spadix at the center.