Clivia

( KLYE - vee - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

This plants in this genus, commonly called Natal Lilies or Bush Lilies, do best when grown in partial to full shade, or indoors in bright indirect light and need regular water for best performance. Flowering periods range from early winter to mid-spring depending on what zone they are grown in. Blooms are orange, following berries are red, and both contrast nicely against the handsome, strappy green foliage. These flowers can be damaged by temperatures below 30 degrees Fahrenheit, so they are best grown in frost-free areas or well-protected parts of the garden. Take care when planting these beauties in your garden, as all plant parts are toxic to humans and pets if ingested.

Clivia Species and Varietals

The genus Clivia is a member of the plant family Amaryllidaceae and includes six species. The genus is named in 1828 by Kew botanist John Lindley, who wanted to honor the Duchess of Northumberland, Lady Charlotte Florentia Clive (Charlotte Percy). Clivia plants do best in USDA hardiness zones 9-11 or Sunset growing zones 12-17, 19-24, H1 and H2. See the descriptions below for more information. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Clivia caulesens (Longstem Bushlily, Stalked Clivia, Natal Lily)
This species of Clivia is native to Eswatini, Mpumalanga and Limpopo and is threatened with extinction due to overharvesting. Flowers are orange to salmon-colored, and have yellow centers. Foliage is green and strappy. Individual plants reach up to 1.6 to 5 feet tall at maturity when in bloom.

Clivia x cyrtanthiflora (Hybrid Clivia)
This hybrid group was developed by breeding Clivia miniata and Clivia nobilis. Blooms are large and pendulous. They are tubular and typically orange to salmon-colored with lighter edges. Leaves are strappy and dark green, and plants reach up to about 2 feet tall when in bloom.

'Nakamura Red'
To 2 feet tall with pendulous orange-red flowers.

'Orange Trumpet'
To 2 feet tall with orange, trumpet-shaped blooms.

'Salmon Beauty'
To 2 feet tall with orange flowers in a pendulous inflorescence.

'Tangerine Burst'
Umbels of tangerine-colored flowers bloom in winter and spring. To 2 feet tall.

Clivia gardenii (Major Garden's Clivia, Natal Drooping Clivia, Herfs-Boslelie, Umayime)
Native to South Africa's east coast, this species is threatened with extinction due to overharvesting. Flowers are orange to light orange and sometimes have greenish mouths. Foliage is green and strappy.

Clivia miniata (Bush Lily, Natal Lily, St. John's Lily, Boslelie, Fire Lily, Kaffir Lily)
This species, native to woodland habitats in South Africa and Eswatini, is widely cultivated as an ornamental plant, and has many cultivars. Flowers come in a variety of colors, including yellows, creams, and reds. Hybrids and varietals of this species are listed and described below. These plants are considered invasive in New Zealand.

'Arturo's Yellow'
To 1-2 feet tall with creamy golden-yellow flowers.

'Flame' ('Monya')
To 2-3 feet tall and wide with deep orange-red flowers.

'Golden Dragon'
A varietal with peachy, light yellow blooms.

'Good Hope'
To 1-2 feet tall and 3-5 feet wide. Clear yellow flowers.

'Lemon Chiffon'
With light lemon-yellow blooms.

'Longwood Debutante'
With luminous yellow flowers that rise above foliage.

'Longwood Fireworks'
With creamy light yellow-orange flowers.

'Longwood Sunrise'
With orange flowers that have lighter throats.

'San Marcos Yellow'
To 2 feet tall and just as wide with rich butter-yellow flowers.

'Solomon Hybrids'
With blooms in white, yellow, orange, or red on plants to 1-2 feet tall.

'Tessa'
With peachy flowers that have yellow centers.

'Vico Yellow'
With peach-yellow blooms.

Clivia mirabilis (Oorlogskloof Bushlily, Miracle Clivia)
This species of Natal Lily is native to the Oorlogskloof Nature Reserve in South Africa and is considered to be endangered due to over-harvesting. Leaves have a prominent white stripe down their center, and flowers are orange, fading to creamy yellow at the mouth.

Clivia nobilis (Green-Tip Forest Lily, Eastern Cape Clivia, Bush Lily)
Native to South Africa, this species has evergreen, strappy foliage and produces narrow red and yellow trumpet shaped flowers with green tips. These are commonly cultivated as houseplants, and are hardy down to 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Clivia robusta (Swamp Bush Lily, Swamp Clivia)
Preferring swampy habitats, this species is native to coastal eastern South Africa, and is considered an endangered species due to over-harvesting. Flowers are salmon-orange and have green to yellow tips. Foliage is strappy and evergreen. These plants reach up to 4-6 feet tall.

Caring for Clivia

When planting these flowers in the garden, set them about 1.5 to 2 feet apart, burying the rhizomes a few inches below the surface of the soil. Plant Clivias in a space in the landscape that receives full to partial shade; ideally, they appreciate morning sun or indirect light during the day. Ensure that soil is well-draining, rich in nutrients, and has a pH of between 5.5 and 6.5 (slightly acidic to neutral). If local soils are particularly poor in nutrients or do not drain well, make sure to amend the planting area with plenty of organic compost before installing. Apply a layer of mulch around the planting area to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water new plantings regularly as they establish a strong root system in their new home. At maturity, Clivia plants appreciate regular waterings, though soil should be allowed to dry out between waterings to prevent root rot. During wintertime, drastically reduce waterings to keep the underground storage roots cool and dry.

Fertilize yearly in early springtime with an application of 2 inches of compost around the base of plants. Pull mulch back before applying, work the compost gently into the soil a bit, water it in, and then replace mulch. Clumps should be left undisturbed for a few years, though if the area is likely to frost, they should be dug up and stored indoors over the winter months. These flowers can be grown in containers, and actually do well with a little root crowding. When they begin to fade or not flower as well, it is possible they may need dividing; for instructions on how to successfully divide Clivia plants, see the Propagation section below. Clivia flowers are considered long-lived perennials, persisting in the landscape for 10 to 30 years or more before needing to be replaced.

Caring for Clivia in Containers
Clivia flowers are wonderful in the ground, but can they also thrive in containers. Choose a pot that is at least a few inches wider and deeper than the nursery container or root ball. Ensure that the container has adequate drainage holes on the bottom to allow for excess water to flow away. Fill with a well-draining potting mix amended with organic material and perlite, and top with a layer of mulch to suppress weed growth, maintain consistent soil temperatures, and to increase soil moisture retention. Water regularly as the plant establishes itself in its new home. Once established, waterings can be lessened. Clivia plants grown in containers will need more frequent irrigation than those grown in the ground. As a general rule of thumb, water whenever the top few inches of soil feels dry to the touch. Prune to remove dead, damaged, or diseased foliage at any time during the growing season. Every few years, check the bottom of the pot to ensure that the plant is not outgrowing its root space. If roots are growing through the drainage holes in the bottom of the container, it is a good indication that it needs to be potted up; choose a slightly larger container and repot. Clivia flowers grow from rhizome roots, which may need to be divided at the time of repotting as well. For instructions on how to successfully divide Clivias, see the Propagation section below.

Caring for Clivia Indoors
Clivia are popular, rugged houseplants that are typically easy to care for. They grow best in a spot that receives bright light, but no direct sunlight. They are great in north-facing windows or in east or west-facing windows shaded by outdoor trees. Plants can be brought outdoors in summertime, if desired, but they will not endure cold temperatures well. Make sure that your Clivia is in a pot with good drainage holes. Substrate should be well-draining; these plants prefer to be kept a bit on the dry side. Water plants thoroughly when the top two inches of soil feels dry to the touch. Do not mist these plants. Give Clivia a rest period in fall/winter (October, November, and December), where it should be kept in a cool space (between 50 and 55 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal) and waterings should be withheld. If plants begin to wilt, add a cup or two of water, just enough to moisten soil slightly. After this period has passed, blooms should appear within 6-12 weeks. Cut flowering stalks as blooms fade and remove any withered or browning leaves. Repot every 3-5 years.

Propagation

Clivia, or Bush Lily, can be propagated either by division or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the division method. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your Bush Lily, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Clivia by Seed

Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. Clivia grown from seed also takes about 3-5 years before it will start to flower. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. The best potting medium for seed germination is a light blend of 1/3 pasteurized soil or compost, 1/3 sand, vermiculite or perlite, and 1/3 coconut coir or peat moss.
Harvest your seeds. Seeds of Clivia plants are located inside of the ripened red berries that remain on the plant once flowers have faded. The berries will need to be left on the plant for about a year before they are ready to be harvested. Inside berries are a few round seeds that look like tan pearls. Plant seeds immediately or soak them overnight - they do not like to be left out to dry.
In either late winter or early springtime, get your container prepared. Water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 4-6 weeks from sowing.
Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.

Propagating Clivia by Division
This type of propagation is relatively simple; you will need a clean shovel, mulch, fresh soil (any kind will do, though it does need to be well-draining), compost and pots (only necessary if you will be saving divided plants for transporting elsewhere). Division is best done in very early spring (after the plant has entered dormancy, but before it has begun its new spring growth), and needs to be done every few years regardless of whether you have the goal of propagating the plants for best performance. Once Clivia plants have reached between 3 and 4 years old, they will begin to produce offsets, which can be separated from their parent plant when they have developed between 3 and 4 leaves. Clivia does do well when its roots are slightly restricted, so it is best to wait a bit until roots are quite crowded before digging and dividing. To propagate Bush Lily by division, follow these steps:

Using a shovel, dig up your existing plant. Start from the outside and work your way in to avoid damaging the root(s). Once you have worked it up out of the ground, lay it out.
Start to tease apart the roots with your gloved fingers. Once the roots are untangled, separate your plant into segments, ensuring that each one has at least one thick root section attached. You will need to physically cut the propagation from its parent plant using clean shears or a sharp garden knife.
Prepare your pot(s) or new planting site(s) with amended, well-draining soil. You can either bring in new soil or simply amend your existing soil with compost to complete this task. Then, plant your divisions and water thoroughly.
Apply a thick layer of mulch around the new planting to protect it from cold weather as it acclimates to its new home. Then, enjoy watching it sprout in the next growing season.

Clivia fruits emerge green and mature to a bright red. They contain a few rounded seeds.

Clivia seeds are typically roundish and tan to light brown in color with a pearly finish.

Problems and Pests

Certain species of Clivia are considered invasive in some areas; see species descriptions for more information. Check with local authorities before planting. Clivia plants can be susceptible to a few issues in the garden or when grown as houseplants, including: