GINA PARKINSON stumbles on something exotic.

AMONGST the bedding plants and geraniums at a local DIY store, I spotted a stand of exotic-looking specimens in shades of pink, white and orange. A few had variegated leaves.

Closer inspection revealed them to be labelled as calla lilies, described as semi-tender plants for full sun or partial shade and fertile soil.

The botanical name wasn't on the plant but it is related to the Arum lily, Zantedeschia aethiopica, a handsome white or green-flowered plant with shiny leaves.

'Crowborough' is a popular, reliable white variety of this species growing up to 1.2m tall and flowering in summer. 'Green Goddess' has greenish flower spathes while 'White Pixie', which was introduced last year, is lower growing forming a neat mound around 35cm tall with a similar spread.

The calla lilies I saw are probably not this species but The Plant Finder has a list of plants that simply come under Zantedeschia followed by the name of the variety. These include 'Apricot Glow', 'Black Eyed Beauty', 'Kiwi Blush' and 'Pink Persuasion' as well as several new varieties such as 'Moonglow', 'Red Sox', 'Lilac Mist' and 'Crystal Glow'. I suspect the plants I saw will belong to this group.

Other species in the Zantedeschia family include Z.albomaculata, a small plant that grows to about 40cm tall with arrow-shaped leaves with transparent spots. It has white flowers that shade to green at the base with a deep purple blotch inside.

Z.rehmannii or Pink arum is similar in size but usually has unmarked leaves with small pink flowers. 'Little Dream' is a hard-to-find variety of this species. Z.elliottiana or Golden arum lily has heart shaped spotted leaves and beautiful, clear yellow flowers. It grows up to one metre tall.

With the exception of Zantedeschia aethiopica, most species of this family are frost tender and should be lifted before the first frosts and stored in a cool, dry, frost-free place over winter.

Start into growth the following spring and plant out or put in a container on the patio when the danger of frost is over.

Z.aethiopica can be left outside permanently but in cold areas it is wise to give it a thick protective covering from mid autumn to mid spring. In milder areas it will remain evergreen and unlike other members of the genus can be grown as a bog or marginal plant in wet soil or even in mud in up to 30cm of water.

Updated: 09:25 Saturday, June 21, 2003