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PO Box 6059, Villa Park, IL 60181-6059

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DON'T NEGLECT CALLAS!  Even in the upper Midwest, these fascinating and beautiful plants, botanically known as Zantedeschia, make fine additions to the sunny or partially shaded border. 

NOTE:  Callas occasionally survive northern winters outdoors even with non-optimal care.  In early June 2009, some Callas are emerged in my garden after a test winter of -18 F (at O'Hare, likely a few degrees colder here in Villa Park) in areas where I left them unprotected intentionally.  I have observed Callas emerging after other severe winters and in 2008 planted several cultivars with the intention of leaving them in the ground.  Though this new emergence does not imply definite winter hardiness of all species and varieties in our area, it does confirm that Callas are hardier than most gardeners and authorities once believed. 

By mid July, the plants - mainly small sprouts and unrolled foliage, likely weakened by the stress of the winter's cold, had disappeared altogether.  Though a mild fall and winter are forecast for our area due to the presence of El Nino in the Eastern Pacific, I did not plant additional Callas for trial this year.  I will try again in 2010 using different planting and overwintering techniques.

Callas can be planted almost any time of year in containers, and are useful indoors during the cooler months.  Under fall and winter conditions in the north, the shorter varieties work best, and they enjoy a sunny window for best performance and bloom.