Today we will talk about the most laconic, but at the same time beautiful flowers - callas. On the one hand, they are as simple as possible, on the other hand, they are included in the list of sensual plants. They simultaneously symbolize love and are considered mourning. At a wedding, girls choose bridal bouquets made from calla lilies in order to live happily in marriage, and in times of sorrow they buy them to say goodbye to a loved one forever. How can a flower, which consists of only a pistil and a “veil” petal, combine so many contradictory meanings? We'll talk about this in the article.
What do calla lilies mean: legends and myths
The name of the flower comes from the Greek language and is translated as “beautiful.” Therefore, we will start with the ancient Greek myth of calla lilies.
The flowers appeared from Hera's breast milk, drops of which fell to the ground. The goddess of love Aphrodite saw them and envied their snow-white beauty. To spoil it, she created a yellow arrow that pierced the core of the flower. Because of their connection with Aphrodite, calla lilies represented sensual desire and lust.
When calla lilies began to be grown in Europe, they noticed that they bloomed on the eve of Easter. With a blooming period, white hue, and trumpet-shaped bud that symbolizes triumph, calla lilies have come to signify purity, resurrection, and eternal life. A tradition arose of bringing them to funerals as a symbol of immortality. This is how they found the glory of ritual flowers.
In the homeland of calla lilies - in Africa - there is another legend. The leader fell in love with a girl from a neighboring tribe, but not mutually. To intimidate her and persuade her to marry, he killed all the unfortunate woman’s fellow tribesmen. On her wedding day, the bride chose to throw herself into a huge fire rather than marry an unloved and cruel man. The gods took pity on her and turned her into a calla lily.
Thanks to this belief, calla lilies began to be included in wedding bouquets. They symbolize a voluntary marriage of mutual and pure love.
Signs and beliefs
The opinion about callas as a flower of death is not substantiated by anything, it is just an assumption. The reason for its occurrence may be the tradition of many Europeans to consider white the color of grief and mourning. Hence the taboo on giving white flowers to older women.
The magical flower is also credited with the role of a symbol and amulet of a happy marriage. Callas protect the family from disagreements, neutralize quarrels and troubles. Flower growers admire this plant. Callas are perfect for a first date bouquet.
The magical properties of the whitefly also include protecting the home from evil visitors, misfortune, gossip and the evil eye. That is why you should not talk about this fragile and delicate plant as a symbol of death. It is better to enjoy the subtlety of its vanilla aroma.
According to signs, the houseplant calliper gives vigor, while calming the nerves and increasing immunity. Callas will help a lonely heart find love.
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Why give bouquets of calla lilies?
Compositions with calla lilies are usually given to girls and women. They are not presented to girls because of the sensual overtones, and to men because the shape of the petal is too delicate and round. Although some tall varieties with large buds are sometimes added to men's designer bouquets.
The meaning of calla lilies in the language of flowers depends on their shade:
- White, like other light flowers, signify purity, sincerity and fidelity;
- Yellow - gratitude;
- Red - courage and determination;
- Pink callas highlight the femininity and charm of the recipient;
- Purple is presented as a symbol of nobility and power;
- Black buds represent mystery and elegance.
You can give calla lilies for a birthday, anniversary or wedding. If it is customary to send flowers for Easter, they will also be an excellent solution.
However, in a time of sorrow, you can also opt for calla lilies. They are bought to say goodbye to the deceased or sent as a sign of condolences to his family.
Positive properties of the flower
The whitewing is able to predict the weather. If the bud has fully unfolded, the day will be sunny and fine; if it is pressed against the stem, it will be rainy and foggy.
Esotericists claim that by placing a pot of calla lilies at home, you can improve relationships between household members. Where this plant is located, there are no quarrels or conflicts. It helps restore peace in the family. In addition, calla lilies help fight bad mood and depression.
Calla is a flower that can sense the energy background of the place where it is located. If a whitefly grows in a house, it feels the condition of each family member.
By its appearance, a plant can tell about the deterioration in the health, physical and mental, of someone in the household. Due to the flower’s ability to respond to changes in the energy field, it can warn not only about the ill health of the inhabitants of the house, but also about the impending death of one of the family members. The ability to predict death is the reason for the plant’s bad reputation.
The meaning of calla lilies in a wedding bouquet
White and soft pink callas are very often added to bridal bouquets. The elegant bud emphasizes the femininity and sophistication of the newlywed, and the shade emphasizes her purity and innocence. If we recall the African legend, we can say that the bouquet becomes the girl’s unspoken consent to get married.
Even dark calla lilies look festive and impressive in a wedding composition. They set off the whiteness of the dress and do not seem gloomy at all. On the contrary, elegant flowers seem to hint at hidden feminine energy. We dare to assume that the groom will have many pleasant and interesting surprises in his family life.
Plant care
When you give a calla lily in a pot, you need to know the basic rules on how to care for it:
- Transplant into a larger pot, in acidic soil.
- Place in a warm place, on a sunny windowsill.
- Water abundantly and often, avoiding stagnation of moisture.
- Do “feeding” twice a month, three times in winter.
- When the air is dry, spray the leaves with water.
Having received delightful and proud flowers as a gift, you don’t have to worry about the sincerity of your feelings. Calla attracts strong-willed and self-confident people. Such an environment always has a positive effect on the general condition of a person. And if you decide to make such a gift yourself, don’t hesitate, give with pleasure and get ready to receive gratitude!
Is it possible to grow indoor callas in pots?
On the Internet you can find the phrase “calla lily - the flower of death.” We have already said why calla lilies are classified as mourning, and there are no other bad omens associated with them, and they can be grown at home.
However, callas do not grow well in pots because they require special conditions. It is necessary to monitor the acidity and moisture of the soil, air humidification, temperature, and buy special fertilizers in autumn and spring.
It is not recommended for beginning gardeners to plant calla lilies. But if you have experience caring for capricious indoor flowers, why not. In gratitude for the care, the calla produces 7-12 flower stalks, and each blooms for up to 1.5 months.
We hope we have convinced you that calla lilies are beautiful both in appearance and in meaning. But for some reason they still remain unusual for many. Be original and don’t be afraid to give bouquets of calla lilies to your beloved women. Let them feel that they always remain the most beautiful and desirable for you.
Not everything was bad
Previously, it was believed that callas are flowers of sadness. But attentive people noticed that many other flowers are also carried to the cemetery. Then why aren’t orchids and carnations, peonies and roses called mourning?
Experts do not agree with the definition of calla lily as a mournful flower. But it’s interesting to figure out why calla lilies bring good luck, not grief.
Callas are considered a unique natural creation. These delicate, luxurious, and also elegant flowers are a pleasure for florists and gardeners to deal with.
Flowers that are beautiful and unpretentious in growth need a site located in partial shade. Calla lilies are watered frequently; these plants love moisture.
Form
Long and strong stems allow you to create a classic version - a bouquet with open legs , in which the buds are placed in a spiral and tied with a ribbon. It turns out simple but elegant.
Important! Calla lilies are used to create bouquets of any shape, except for a basket. She's the only one who looks weird.
A round bouquet looks no worse. It will require more colors, but you can additionally choose an interesting design to decorate the leg.
If your soul asks for discreet outlines, take a closer look at Biedermeier , consisting of concentric circles.
Lovers of all things natural will love the vegetative option for making a bouquet with an abundance of fresh herbs. You can also make very exotic options from calla lilies for a themed wedding, for example, glamelia - a giant flower made up of individual petals. Unfortunately, such beauty is short-lived, but it will definitely last the day.
A muff with flowers is suitable for a winter wedding - this solution looks very original, and has a practical meaning - it warms your hands.
For a Japanese wedding, take a closer look at the fan-shaped bouquet. The accessory turns out to be impossibly graceful and elegant.
Decor
Callas are so self-sufficient that they do not require sophisticated decorations. They look great solo, only slightly intercepted with a satin ribbon or diluted with fluffy greenery.
But if desired, it is not forbidden to include something interesting in the decor - rhinestones or beads on the leg or the petals themselves, fabric draperies, artificial butterflies or appliqués.
Idea! An excellent solution for a wedding in the Art Nouveau style is a bouquet of black and white callas, complemented by abstract iron elements. The main thing is to remember to take them out before throwing them to your friends.
Kinds
There are a lot of options, the main thing is that the accessory fits into the theme of the wedding and the overall image.
Advice! Modest, delicate small flowers with a delicate aroma will be an excellent frame for larger and more elegant calla lilies.
An equally important point is the selection of colors that do not conflict with each other. If callas are unpretentious in this regard, then, for example, roses, orchids or lilies will want to push their neighbors out of the vase. This problem can be solved by separating the flowers after the celebration. This must also be done because callas need less moisture than traditional flowers.
When composing a winter bouquet, remember that not all flowers are as frost-resistant as callas.
Mono-bouquets of white, black and colored buds
The simplest, but no less exciting option is to use exclusively calla lilies in the bouquet. The exotic shape and fairly large size make these flowers self-sufficient without additional decoration.
A white mono-bouquet will emphasize the tenderness, trepidation, and aristocracy of the bride’s image. It is better if the dress differs in shade. Then it will not merge with the accessory. The leg can be wrapped in a matching fabric, preferably without a pattern or texture, or left free, only slightly tied with a ribbon over the floral wire.
Black callas are suitable for bold brides who are not afraid to experiment.
Dark flowers are also ideal for a themed wedding. You can choose either a completely contrasting color or buds with a slight tint of burgundy or purple.
This bouquet will perfectly highlight a snow-white outfit and add mystery to the bride. Idea! For an interesting addition, wrap the stem of black calla lilies in a checkerboard patterned fabric.
Pink callas will add a romantic flair to the bride's image. Try adding pearls. You can attach them both to individual elements and to the stamens, and this will make the bouquet fabulous.
Bright orange flowers look magical at a fall wedding, especially when combined with berries, fur or greenery.
A purple bouquet will create a mystical, sacred mood, and its charm can be emphasized with a long satin ribbon falling to the hem.
Bright and dark color combinations in the bouquet should be emphasized with an accent of the same color in the bride's image. This could be lipstick, the color of shoes, eyeliner or mascara.
Orchids
Orchids are another exotic, sensual flower that perfectly complements the elongated buds of calla lilies.
This juxtaposition looks interesting in the vegetative form of a bouquet, but you can consider creating other bright compositions. Even if you choose a white monochrome, the hearts of both colors will add rich accents.
Orchids are available in a wide range, including bicolor, spotted, and edged inflorescences. You should definitely play on this by adding calla lilies to match the “finishing” of the orchids.
Contrasting combinations look great - white callas and fuchsia orchids or black callas with white orchids.
Of roses
Roses are a classic of wedding floristry, delicate, elegant and regal. Perhaps calla lilies are one of the few options that will not want to fade into the background, will not come into conflict with the queen of flowers, but will take the place of a charming partner.
For bouquets with calla lilies, both textured large varieties of roses and vintage round buds of the David Austin variety are used, as well as miniature tea buds.
The combination of white and pink with the addition of beads, rhinestones, and small lace elements looks very elegant. Greenery is optional, because even without it the composition looks self-sufficient and airy.
From Alstroemeria
Alstroemeria or Peruvian lily is another exotic flower, presented in a huge palette of shades.
The spots on the petals add a sensual charm to this plant, which well balances the calm and severity of callas.
Advice! Floristry does not allow the use of more than three bright colors in equal shares. If you don’t want to get a tastelessly variegated, chaotic bouquet, choose a two-tone combination of your favorite shades or a main color with the addition of three other small accents.
If you choose a white monochrome from these two plants, you will get an airy and at the same time filled with passion bouquet. It is best to add more greens to it.
More saturated combinations are red and orange, purple and pink, fuchsia and lilac. Such combinations will create a fabulous picture.
With eustoma
Eustoma is slightly similar to a rose, but looks more democratic.
A wide range of shades of spring-style elegant flowers allows you to create bold and unusual combinations. For example, blue or lilac eustoma looks interesting with yellow or orange calla buds.
More traditional options are white with another bright color. This duo always looks stylish. Any of the plants can become a contrasting accent.
Eustoma looks good in both round and vegetative forms, emphasizing the elegant lines of callas. Greenery, small wildflowers, luxurious roses or orchids will be a wonderful addition, allowing you to turn the bride's bouquet into a work of floral art.
With freesias
Burgundy or black calla buds create a mystical duet with white freesias - such a bouquet is suitable for a confident, bright and courageous girl.
If you replace the dark shade with yellow or pink, the overall picture will immediately change. The bouquet will turn into a chaste accessory, filled with spring freshness and happiness.
If you choose a round bouquet, then for greater harmony, be sure to place the callas in the center. Other forms allow for various interpretations, but in any case it is necessary to select a central point from which the remaining elements will diverge.
Freesia is beautiful not only in its blooming form, but also with dense, green buds. If you want to make a fresh bouquet without using greenery, use a few just-blooming branches.
