Comparison of Calla Tubers and why purchase from Golden State Bulb Growers

Golden State Bulb Growers (GSBG) is a breeder and commercial scale producer of our own unique genetic lines. Vertically integrated and in charge of all aspects of production from breeding objectives to the commercial introduction of improved cultivars. GSBG is the world's foremost and largest producer of Zantedeschia.

Callafornia Callas^® is GSBG's registered trademark. The vigorous young multi-eyed F₁ hybrid calla tubers shipped under this trade name offer many features and benefits not available from the old vegetative product generally shipped by other sources. The picture on the left illustrates the difference between 2-year and 3-year tubers of our own best seller, Crystal Blush.

The following table and photos give documented reasons to purchase our tuber over those of the competition, two-year tubers over older vegetatively propagated products.

Callafornia Calla^®(GSBG grower product)

Other product
(GSBG dry sales product)

Older (by 1-5 years!)

Young, never more than 2 years old

Apically dominant (fewer growing points)

Multi-eyed (several growing points)

Less vigorous, plant-back or recycled cut-flower stock with 2-4 times the virus and pathogen exposure

Vigorous first-harvest stock with far less virus and pathogen exposure

Exclusively seed grown with hybrid vigor constantly rejuvenated

Vegetatively propagated, losing vigor with each growing cycle

Fewer flowers and leaves

Numerous flowers and leaves

Tall, rather thin plant

Full bushy plant

Acceptable stem length and plant stature for garden and perhaps cut-flower use

Best suited to the full range of pot and cut-flower grower needs

The two calla tuber photos here are of genetically identical Z. rehmannii superba. The sole difference between the two, in this case, being just one additional harvest and plant-back cycle.

The two-year-old Callafornia Calla^® on the left has adolescent vigor. The three-year-old product on the right does not. Only young T₂ vegetative material can come close to the vigor of F₁ hybrid Callafornia Callas^®. But, most of these descend from the apically dominant and soft-rot susceptible, though taller-stemmed, Z. elliotiana types.

The multieyed genetics of Z. rehmannii blood lines have, on the other hand, been incorporated into all Callafornia Calla^® pot lines and many cut-suitable lines as well. Callafornia Calla^® Hybrid Yellow and Flame are the notable exceptions.