A darkly beautiful, almost Gothic Zantedeschia cultivar that looks like something you would find in a flower arrangement at Dracula’s castle. The spathes are such a dark purple that they are almost black with a black spadix and are held aloft slightly glossy, white spotted, narrowly broad (if that makes sense?) green leaves.

It is said not to be hardy and that the rhizomes should be lifted and stored dormant through the winter in a dark, cool, frost free area but we have found this not to be the case if the correct conditions are provided. Firstly, plant the rhizome deep, about 10cm below the soil surface. Secondly make sure the soil is humus rich and moist during the growing season but well drained in winter. Add plenty of sharp sand, perlite and bark chippings to the planting hole to improve the drainage during the colder months. Mulch with a thick layer of bark chippings once they have died back. Give it a sheltered spot with full sun.

During the growing season they like plenty of water, even growing happily as a marginal pond plant but excessive water during the winter when they are dormant will cause rot. Lift if growing in excessively wet conditions once the firsts frosts have cut back the foliage and store in peat moss as you would with rhizomatous plants like dahlias. Plants grown in frost free conditions will usually remain evergreen but do benefit from a rest/ dormant period every few seasons.

Sent as a young plant in a 9cm pot.