Magnificent CallasIn the Victorian language of flowers, callas represent "magnificent beauty." Flip through books of wedding photos, zero in on table arrangements at special events. Callas are sure to be there. The simple elegance of this flower has secured a permanent place in the consumer's heart. In the next few years, this flower will become even more prominent as new varieties enter the market.
Yellow-red-orange has been a popular blend in many flowers for autumn and throughout the year. New calla varieties add to this color zone. 'Peach Chiffon' has large, peach-apricot blooms. 'Fireglow' is a fiery red-burgundy with yellow-cream undertones. 'Blaze' has large, deep rust red/orange flowers. There are more soft tones, too, with creamy white 'Mint Julip' and white/antique pink 'Cherry Chiffon.' For a flash of more saturated color, there is pale/hot pink 'Strawberry Parfait' which has ruffled petal edges. 'Pillow Talk' has large, showy, rose to red blooms.
| With improved growing techniques and new production sites, callas are now year-round flowers, though the volume of different varieties can vary. "All colors of callas are available throughout the year, but supplies can be limited, especially with the newer varieties," says Chris Goena, CallaCo general manager. In the future, count on callas to generate more excitement. California calla growers are continually looking for new possibilities and many new varieties are already in the testing process. Besides color, horticulturists are focussing on large blooms, sturdy stems, and ever longer vase life, characteristics found in several of the new varieties. The story on California callas is just beginning. |
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White, pink, lavender, red, yellow—these are familiar colors for calla lovers. Now there are more stunning additions to this base from CallaCo Inc., Moss Landing, Calif. Recently, the calla grower introduced several new varieties from the CALLA fornia CALLAS® breeding line. Many are bi-colors in the pink, red, and yellow/orange tones.