Calla Lily Valley off Highway 1 next to Garrapata Beach

Calla Lily Valley with calla lilies on both sides of Doud Creek (April 3, 2026)

Calla lilies are native to southern Africa. They were introduced to North America in the 19th century. Calla lilies do well along the California Coast—for example, in a valley in the Garrapata State Park north of Point Sur. 

A short hike from Highway 1 along a trail through bluff scrub gets you into Doud Creek. Not far from where the creek flows into the Pacific Ocean at Garrapata Beach, you will find dense pockets of calla lilies. If you step out of the canyon onto the north-side bluffs, you will leave the calla lilies behind, finding coastal natives of California.  

Calla lily flower: pure white spathe and yellow spadix

Calla lilies (Zantedeschia aethiopica), also known as arum lilies, are not real lilies. They belong to the arum family (Araceae family), while real lilies are grouped into the Liliaceae family. Calla lilies grow from rhizomes rather than bulbs [1,2]. 

Z. aethiopica  is a flowering plant—a popular ornamental plant around the world. It is considered an invasive species—in California, as well as in coastal areas of Australia and between the Iberian Peninsula and Ireland. The flowers often form dense stands and threaten native wetland species [3]. Since Z. aethiopica reproduces through seed dispersal by birds, the species is considered a fast-growing plant in California, invasive to riparian areas. Therefore, some state parks work on their removal.  

Calla lily flowers with arrow-shaped dark-green leaves

The eccentric, sculptural form of calla lilies has long inspired artists, notably Georgia O'Keefe and Diego Rivera. Georgia O'Keefe (1887-1986) is probably the best known artist adopting the calla lily as a subject. 

Garrapata State Park brochure

https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/579/files/garrapata.pdf

References and further reading

[1] Zantedeschia aethiopica. Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zantedeschia_aethiopica.

[2]  Singh, Y, van Wyk, A.E. and Baijnath, H. Floral biology of Zantedeschia aethiopica (L.) Spreng. (Araceae). South African Journal of Botany 1996, 62 (3), 146-150.  Elsevier: www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0254629915306141.

[3] Allan B. (contributor). Zantedeschia aethiopica Scorecard. Invasive Species List of California, UC Davis (Last Updated on April 02, 2023; accessed on April 12, 2026): calinvasives.ucdavis.edu/scorecard/zantedeschia-aethiopica-scorecard.