What Kind of Sun Does a Calla Lily Need?

Sun

• Calla lilies thrive in very wet, cool soils. For this reason, they are able to tolerate exposure to a full day's worth of sunlight. Very hot, direct rays of the afternoon sun can be quite harsh, however, and calla lilies tend to grow taller and bloom better if they are afforded some afternoon shade. Plant calla lilies in a location where they will receive morning sunlight followed by afternoon filtered or dappled light for best growth.

Climate

• Climate is a consideration when determining how much sun a calla lily needs. These plants are hardy -- the rhizomes can be left in the ground -- in U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) growing zones 8 through 10. Home gardeners who live in the cooler end of that range, USDA zone 8, can give their calla lilies more afternoon sun. Home gardeners who live in the hottest climates (USDA zone 10) should provide their calla lilies with afternoon shade. The same holds true for home gardens in cooler climates. Calla lilies can also grow in climates colder than USDA zone 8, but the rhizomes will need to be dug up and stored indoors during the winter.

Container Plants

• Container-planted calla lilies are an advantage in any climate, because they can be moved into the shade on very hot days, moved into the sun on cool days and even brought indoors for the winter. The latter saves you from having to dig up the rhizomes if you live in an area where hard freezes occur. Container-grown calla lilies require the same amount of sun in-ground plants do -- at least a half-day of exposure -- but they will need to be almost continually watered, as they require consistently moist soil.

Considerations

• Don't be in a rush to dig up your callas before the first frost arrives. Instead, provide them with as much sun as possible during cooler autumn weather. This may stimulate your calla lilies into producing a second set of blooms.