Are calla lilies native to Mexico?

Calla Lilies and Mexico: A Love Story with a Twist

Calla lilies. Those elegant, trumpet-shaped flowers – you’ve probably seen them in gardens, weddings, maybe even gracing the tables at fancy restaurants. They just look like they belong everywhere, don’t they? But here’s a little secret: despite their widespread popularity, and what you might think, they aren’t actually from Mexico.

Yep, it’s true! The calla lily, or Zantedeschia aethiopica if you want to get all scientific about it, actually hails from way over in southern Africa. Think Lesotho, South Africa, and Eswatini – that’s where these beauties first popped up. They’re big fans of the wet stuff, so you’d typically find them chilling near streams, ponds, and marshes.

So, how did this African flower become such a fixture in places like Mexico? Well, that’s where things get interesting. Calla lilies have become naturalized all over the globe – from Kenya to California, they’ve set up shop and are thriving. They’re adaptable little things, you see.

Now, in Mexico, the calla lily goes by the name “alcatraz,” and you’ll often spot them being sold in flower markets, especially around Mexico City. They’re grown in the nearby mountains, which has led to them becoming a real part of the Mexican cultural landscape. I remember the first time I saw them in a market there – I just assumed they were a local flower!

But it’s more than just being sold in markets. The calla lily really took off in Mexican art during the early 20th century. Think Diego Rivera, the famous muralist – he was a huge fan! He used them in his paintings to symbolize everything from purity to sensuality, even the cycle of life and death in indigenous culture. Pretty deep stuff, right?

And get this: the image of a woman selling calla lilies, often an indigenous woman, became a symbol of Mexican heritage and the struggles of marginalized people. It’s a powerful image that resonates throughout Latin America, popping up in art from Peru to Colombia.

Okay, so what are these calla lilies, anyway? They’re not actually true lilies, but belong to the Araceae family. That makes them cousins to things like anthuriums and philodendrons. What looks like the “flower” is actually a spathe, a modified leaf that wraps around the spadix, which holds the real flowers. Tricky, huh?

They usually grow to be a couple of feet tall and love moist soil and a bit of sunshine. If you live in a colder area, you can grow them as annuals or bring them inside for the winter.

Symbolically, calla lilies are all about innocence, purity, and rebirth. That’s why you see them at weddings and religious events. And in South Africa, the rhizome (that’s the underground stem) has even been used in traditional medicine.

So, there you have it. While calla lilies aren’t native to Mexico, they’ve definitely found a special place in its heart. Their journey from southern Africa to the art and culture of Mexico is a reminder of how a single flower can travel the world and take on a life of its own.