Welcome, home gardeners!

As Golden State Bulb Growers is a breeder and commercial producer of our own unique genetic lines, we do not sell directly to the public.  However, we hope you will learn about our branded products and look for them at either your favorite nursery or through a mail-order firm.  We have compiled a list of mail-order sources carrying our bulbs to help you find our product.

We are sure you will enjoy the better flower production and improved plant habits of both Callafornia Callas^® and AmeriHybrid^® Begonias whether they are in your garden, in a container on your patio, or as centerpieces in the vase.

Below, we have provided some botanical and historical information on callas and begonias.  We hope you find it of some interest. Zantedeschia aestivae, the summer-flowering hybrid colored callas, have long been one of Golden State Bulb Growers’ two main specialty crops. 

Our fourth generation firm, located along California’s central coast, has worked more than eighty years selecting and breeding between four distinct species of colored callas.  We have now introduced over 40 unique new hybrid varieties under the trade name Callafornia Callas^®.  There are now, fortunately for all of us, varietal choices like: the hot–pink of Neon Amour and Garnet Glow; the yellow-red Blaze and Flame; the pure white blushing-pink-with-age Crystal Blush; the ivory Mint Julip; the robust Rubylite Rose; Lavender Gem and Amethyst; the intriguingly changeable (light and temperature related) rose-lavenders of Lipstick and Super Gem; bicolor, like the peach/apricot Peach Chiffon and rose/reds like Pillow Talk and Parfait; and bold large-flowered yellows like Golden Chalice.  There are others now being introduced at a rate of at least two per year.  The newest Callafornia Calla^® releases include the sturdy upright patio plant Gold Rush and the spectacularly spotted-leafed bright yellow Solar Flare.

Callas are Zantedeschia.  Though called “calla lilies," they are not lilies in any botanic sense.  But, "calla lilies” they are anyway.  Actually, the genus of Zantedeschia (with its eight species) are members of the Arum family . . . a family with members as diverse as anthurium, Jack in the Pulpit, dieffenbachias, philodendron, caladium and taro. 

The primary distinguishing characteristic of all the Arums is that their inflorescence or “flower” is actually not a flower at all.  It is instead a large fleshy modified leaf or spathe.  The actual flowers are multiple with infinitesimal male flowers covering the tip, and larger female flowers covering the bottom, of the upright finger-like spadix which stands centered in the middle of the spathe.  Here again, though, these pure white, yellow, pale and deep pink modified leaves or spathes of the species will always be thought of as “flowers” and are destined always to be “lilies.”  This is a suitable elegant name with some up-scale and classy association.   So, who can complain? The real advantage of this physiology is that calla “blooms,” are uniquely and rather sensuously shaped, and durable and long lasting in the vase.  They can be transported dry for a day or more, yet will rehydrate in the arrangement and, with floral preservative (or mouthwash) in the water, will last up to 14 days in the vase.  The inflorescence in some varieties will even continue to change colors after cutting, especially with cool night temperatures.  In short, they are great cut flowers.  Trim the stems and change the water every two days.  Individual blooms will last, depending on temperatures, up to four weeks on the plant and bloom will spread itself over several weeks for the colored, miniature species, and will continue over a 14-week period or more for the aethiopica species.

When considering purchasing callas for pots or landscaping, including water gardening, one must think first of two main groups: Zantedeschia aestivae (the “miniature” colored types) and the large white (primarily) Zantedeschia aethiopica.  These two distinct groups are identifiable by their differing natural histories and habitat preferences.  Though descriptive botanic information is interesting to the botany student, what one really needs to know about a plant’s care and culture begins with its natural history.

NATURAL HISTORY – CALLAS

The two main divergent groupings of Zantedeschia, identifiable by their differing natural histories, are the colored miniatures and Zantedeschia aethiopica.  The miniatures consist of the generally spring and summer flowering, colored and shorter types, some of which have translucent spotting on the leaves.  These have evolved in sunny places like the sandy slopes of the South African Transvaal or other similar regions having free-draining soils that are not overly moist and where the ground does not freeze.

The second main group, Zantedeschia aethiopicas, are more evergreen and generally cool-season flowering.  They are taller (with the exception of one dwarf) and mostly white (with the exception of one muted pink and one variegated green and white) and are known as Zantedeschia aethiopicas.  These evolved in, and are, therefore, partial to far more organic soils with far higher moisture levels and often lower light.  Seeps and stream banks are their native habitats.

“MINIATURES,” colored types now known scientifically as Z. aestivae.

The miniature colored callas, which bloom outdoors in late spring or early summer, still have some selected pure species represented in the commercially available varieties.  These colored callas are all more deciduous than the aethiopicas.  The leaves of the spring-flowering species die back in late summer to grow again in spring when soil temperatures, depending on the species, reach 50° to 65°F (10° to 18° C).  These are not hardy and must be lifted and stored in regions where the ground freezes.  The species Z. albo maculata – spotted leaf (creamy) white; Z. rehmannii superba – common pink with unspotted green leaves; Z. elliotiana – golden yellow with spotted heart–shaped leaves; Z. rehmannii violacea – lavender to deep rose color and unspotted green, lanceolate foliage; Z. pentlandii – large yellow with variable spotting on gray-green leaves; are all species available to the home gardener.  But, most exciting are the hybrid crosses between these that produced a whole range of Callafornia Calla^® colors with improved flowering and plant habits.

Introducing a new F₁ Hybrid variety is a process requiring considerable patience . . . it is over two years from the time you make a cross till the first time you see flowers.  Our classical breeding efforts, therefore, require ten years to bring a new variety to market.  But, it is worth the time - and the whole horticultural world is enriched by the effort.

The large-scale production of colored callas in pots is a recent phenomenon.  Callafornia Calla^® genetics are leading the way. Multiple blooms on small pots up through patio containers are largely attributable to our breeding efforts.

 ZANTEDESCHIA AETHIOPICA

The aethiopicas prefer cool (45 - 65°F / 7 - 18°C) temperatures and are available, as dormant rhizomes in the fall (currently you can find three and sometimes four varieties).  As container plants, they are available from winter through spring.  Plants can be two to five feet tall (.5 to 1.5 meter) with deep green heart-shaped leaves which are generally not spotted.  They will take wetter and shadier conditions than the “miniature” or more compact and generally colored species.  Aethiopicas are not hardy and foliage will suffer frost damage.  Their rhizome root-like tubers will not survive a deep ground freeze.  (Therefore, Zone 8 and 9 with mulching for outdoor use.)