Scientific Name
Gloriosa superba L.
Common Name(s)
Flame Lily, Climbing Lily, Creeping Lily, Glory Lily, Gloriosa Lily, Tiger Claw, Fire Lily
Synonym(s)
Eugone superba, Methonica superba, Gloriosa angulata, Gloriosa carsonii, Gloriosa cirrhifolia, Gloriosa doniana, Gloriosa nepalensis, Gloriosa rockefelleriana, Gloriosa rothschildiana, Gloriosa verschuurii, Gloriosa virescens var. petersiana, Methonica doniana, Methonica gloriosa, Methonica petersiana, Methonica plantii, Methonica senegalensis
Scientific Classification
Family: Colchicaceae
Genus: Gloriosa
Flower
Color: Yellow and orange-scarlet, aging a deeper shade of orange-red to purple
Bloom Time: Summer
Description
Gloriosa superba is a deciduous summer-growing climber with tuberous roots. The slender stems are produced annually. They are upright to scrambling and grow up to 13.3 feet (4 m) long. Tubers sprout in spring, and a tuber sends up 1 to 6 stems. Leaves are bright green and tipped in a tendril, which will cling to anything it touches. Stems die back in late summer, and the tubers are dormant during winter.
The showy flowers are borne on long pedicels on the upper parts of the stems in summer. They are usually bi-colored yellow and scarlet, aging a deeper shade of orange-red to purple. There is also a pure yellow form.
How to Grow and Care
Select a location that receives six to eight hours of direct sunlight a day. In southern climates, a location that allows the vines to grow in full sun while the roots of the plant remain shaded is the best location for growing a Gloriosa Lily plant. Some protection from the afternoon sun may be needed as well.
Prepare the soil by tilling it to a depth of 8 inches (20 cm) and amending it with generous amounts of organic matter such as peat moss, compost, or well-rotted manure. Organic matter improves drainage and aeration and provides a slow-release fertilizer to your Gloriosa Lilies.
Erect a 6- to 8-foot (1.8 to 2.4 m) trellis for your Gloriosa Lilies before planting. Check that it is secure and will not topple under the weight of the growing Gloriosa Lilies.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Gloriosa Lilies.
Origin
Gloriosa superba is native to much of Africa and Asia, but it is known worldwide as an ornamental plant, a medicine, a poison, and a noxious weed.
Cultivars
Links
- Back to genus Gloriosa
- Plantpedia: Browse flowering plants by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, or Origin
Photo Gallery
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