Zantedeschia aethiopica is an old fashioned, but very rewarding garden plant.

The white arum forms large colonies in marshy areas ranging from the coast to an altitude of 2 250 m. Thus one will find them contending with humid, salt laden air at the coast and freezing, misty mountain grasslands at high altitudes. They are very versatile in the garden as a result.

The white arum may be used as a marginal plant along streams, or on the edge of a pond. Plant in partial shade if there is no permanent water. It can be planted as a foliage plant in deep shade under trees but will not flower well in this position. It is fast growing and likes very rich, well-drained conditions.

It has lush-looking dark green leaves with an arrow head shape. The size varies according to the amount of shade.

The leaves of the arum are very interesting in that they contain water stomata which can discharge excess water, by a process known as "guttation". This prevents water-logging and enables arum lilies to grow in wet conditions.

It is an excellent cut flower and lasts a long time in water.

The flowers appear in a main flush from August to January, although there may be the odd flower at other times of the year also.

The flowers of Zantedeschia aethiopica are faintly scented and this attracts various crawling insects and bees which are responsible for pollinating the flowers. Cross pollination occurs as the anthers of each flower ripen before the ovaries. A white crab spider of the family Thomisidae visits the flower to eat the insects. This spider does not spin webs and uses its whiteness as camouflage against the spathe. In the Western Cape, a tiny frog Hyperolius hopstocki is also attacted to the arum lily flowers.