Clivia miniata or Bush Lilly- Kaffir Lilly
Every spring I still get blown away with the colour and vibrancy of these pale orange blooms. Clivia miniata has its origins tracing back to South Africa. They are a fairly tough plant- with long strappy evergreen leaves which fan out from an almost leek- like base. In late winter thick flower stalks will push up from between the leaves and blossom with up to 20 trumpet shape flowers in early spring. Each plant sends up one flower stalk- but as the plant eventually clumps and multiplies, then many flower stalks are produced providing a truly magnificent display. In their native Africa, they grow in rich, organic soil and they naturally prefer part- shady conditions. The trick is to cut the thick developing seed embryos off before they mature as the energy will exhaust the plant and as a result next year’s flowering may be compromised. I tend to repot them every 3 to 4 years as they seem to flower best when pot bound. There are many cultivars available now with colours abound, including pale yellow and a new vivid green coloured blossom, there is also a variegated leaf variant with fine lines like a barcode, definitely one for the collection indeed! Old faithful, in flower now and always brightens up that dark corner in the garden.
Clivia miniata ‘Hirao’
This new green flowered cultivar above is called Clivia miniata ‘Hirao’ its magnificent to behold and highly sort after by collectors.
This variegated Clivia- has very attractive leaves with longitudinal variegation. Sometimes referred to as pin- stripe Clivia.