The winter-flowering species, Zantedeschia aethiopica, commonly called arum lily, also grows very well in NZ. Although it is a popular cut flower in the USA, production in New Zealand for export is limited. There may be potential for increased exports of winter-flowering callas. To keep ahead of overseas competition we need to continually improve our product. Would improved fragrance be a desirable character?

A new species of calla, Z. odorata, was described for the first time in 1989. It grows at a single location in South Africa, produces fragrant white flowers in the winter and is summer dormant. Although the fragrance is freesia-like, neither the shape of the spathe nor the vase life make this species a good candidate for cut flower production.

At HortResearch we have been attempting to produce new calla hybrids by crossing Z. odorata with winter-flowering Z. aethiopica as well as with summer-flowering species and hybrids. We have found major breeding barriers to interspecies crosses in this genus, particularly between Z. aethiopica or Z. odorata and summer flowering species. Even using tissue culture to rescue embryos, all the plants have been albino.

However, crosses between Z. aethiopica and Z. odorata have produced viable hybrids which have now been back-crossed to several aethiopica selections including Childsiana. These seedlings are now being grown and assessed in the field. They exhibit a wide variation in plant height, flower number, flower shape and fragrance.

For further information please contact:
Dan Cohen
HortResearch Floriculture LinkTeam
Tel: +64-6-849 3660