Calla Lily: The Story of a Flower We Learned to Call Our Own

In Calla Lily: The Story of a Flower We Learned to Call Our Own, Tabatha Urías explores the connection between this flower, art, culture, and its deep-rooted presence in Mexico. The singularity of its form has made it a symbol of elegance, whose presence is distinguished by its extraordinary visual impact.

Who does not have an image of Diego Rivera’s calla lilies etched in their memory? Their large white blooms have become one of the most enduring symbols of Mexican art and are part of our collective imagination. It is therefore surprising to discover that this flower, which feels so deeply our own, was in fact born thousands of kilometers away.

The flower we know as the calla lily, whose scientific name is Zantedeschia aethiopica, is native to southern Africa. Like many other flowers, it was introduced to different continents during the colonial period and found in Mexico an ideal environment in which to thrive. The fertile soils and temperate climate of various regions favored its cultivation, allowing it, over time, to cease being a foreign species and become an essential part of our everyday landscape.

Experiencia, colaboración y diseño floral/ Experience, collaboration, and floral design
Fotografía/Photography: Tabatha Urías

Calla lily, a flower that found in Mexico privileged conditions to thrive: fertile soils and a temperate climate that favor its cultivation.

Over the years, its presence became firmly established, particularly in regions with a strong floricultural tradition, where its cultivation continues to be part of the country’s ornamental flower production. One of the aspects that inspires me most when speaking about the calla lily is its relationship with art. The painter Diego Rivera made it a recurring element in his compositions, depicting it in the hands of Indigenous women and in scenes of rural labor.

The calla lily has maintained a constant presence in religious celebrations, weddings, and offerings, where its elegant form and white color evoke purity, solemnity, and serenity.

La belleza también se construye/ Beauty is also constructed
Fotografía/Photography: Tabatha Urías

Calla lily, a symbol of natural elegance. Its clean, sculptural form makes it a flower of remarkable visual impact.

In my experience as a floral designer, the calla lily represents one of the purest expressions of natural elegance. Its clean, sculptural form makes this species a flower of remarkable visual strength, capable of sustaining entire compositions through simplicity alone. The possibilities of the calla lily within contemporary floral design are numerous, as this flower possesses a flexibility that makes it both versatile and a true focal point.

Tradición y sofisticación en el diseño/ Tradition and sophistication in design
Fotografía/Photography: Tabatha Urías

Perhaps one of the reasons I believe the calla lily has captivated artists and designers is the uniqueness of its structure.

Many people believe that the large white “flower” of the calla lily is the flower itself, but in fact it is not. The elegant, curved white structure that we all admire is called the spathe. It is a modified leaf whose function is to protect and highlight the true inflorescence—that is, the arrangement of the flowers on the branches or at the tip of the stem. The flower is actually found in the center, on the yellow, upright structure known as the spadix.

Alcatraces y orquídeas en armonía/ Calla Lilies and Orchids in harmony
Fotografía/Photography: Tabatha Urías

Some flowers capture our attention because of their color, others because of their fragrance. The calla lily does so through its presence. With a serene beauty and a form that seems sculpted by nature, it has found a place in art, in our celebrations, and in Mexico’s collective memory. That is why, although its story began far from here, today I find it impossible to imagine our cultural landscape without its presence. The calla lily is one of those flowers that, over time, we learned to call our own.

Tabatha Urías, floral designer and communications specialist, creates compositions that bring together beauty, detail, and meaning. Her international training supports projects in corporate, cultural, and social settings