Clivia miniata
Bush lily, Fire lily, Kaffir lily, Scarlet kaffir lily
Also known as Clivia kewensis
- Height × spread
- 0.45m × 0.7m
- Position
- Part shade
- Hardiness
- Heated greenhouse 5C & above (RHS H1c)
- Flowers
- Spring
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This is a plant that is really for the house but it can be put outside in summer where its big arching strapping leaves will look handsome and statuesque on a patio. The plant produces clusters of voluptuous, conical flowers, coloured tangerine with an orange throat, that develop into luminous red to black berries. They sometimes appear alongside the last of the flowers. A friend has a pair of these, one each side of the grate, in a sunny room, where they always look healthy and handsome.
- Flower colour
- Orange
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Fruit colour
- Black
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Cube
- Height
- 0.45m
- Spread
- 0.7m
- Spread in 10 years
- 0.5m
- Flowers in
- Spring
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Mediterranean garden, Indoors, Conservatory
- Sun or shade
- Likes part shade, likes light shade
- Soil type
- Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Heated greenhouse 5C & above (RHS H1c)
- Borders & containers
- Borders and containers
- Indoor light
- bright spot, no direct sun
- Indoor temperature
- 10C minimum temperature
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring-Autumn · Indoors
Feed with houseplant food
Using a balanced houseplant fertiliser, feed at alternate waterings.
Where food elements are listed as three numeric values on the label representing in order Nitrogen(N)-Phosphorus(P)-Potassium(K), with percentage values for each, choose one where the values are more or less equal.
Spring-Autumn · Indoors
Water regularly during growth
Water regularly while in growth.
Adopt a regime that means the plants are thoroughly watered every week so that they do not become dessicated. In hot weather watering may need to be more frequent, but less often in cool or moist conditions.
Winter
Winter · Indoors
Water sparingly during dormancy
In its dormant period give very little water, keeping the soil barely moist. Dormancy is likely to be during the winter and the plant recommences growth in early to mid spring.
When a plant enters dormancy the leaves fade, go yellow and then brown. Eventually the whole plant may 'disappear' or unadorned stems may remain.
Planting & general
Compost · Planting
Loam based compost for repotting
Repot using any good quality standard compost.
Alternatively prepare a special compost that is best suited to the plant's needs: mix equal amounts of loam (John Innes no. 2 or 3), fine bark and grit.
Indoor temperature · Planting
10C minimum temperature
This plant requires a minimum temperature of 10 Centigrade.
Indoor plant · Planting
Position in a bright spot, no direct sun
Give this a bright position away from the direct sun, especially direct sun at the height of the day. (Direct sunshine is too hot and can burn the leaves.) Move the plant to a brighter position in the room during winter and early spring.