Bush Lily
Latin Name: Clivia miniata
$18.95
- Pot Size: 2 Inch
- Hardiness Zone: Zone 9, Zone 10, Zone 11
Clivia miniata forms a tidy clump of arching, strap-shaped leaves in deep, glossy green. In late winter and spring, thick stalks rise above the foliage and open into rounded clusters of trumpet-shaped flowers. The blooms glow orange with a soft yellow throat, and a faint, sweet scent drifts from them. Broad leaves and upward-facing flowers trace back to life on shaded forest floors, where light is scarce and every ray counts. Even out of bloom, the layered foliage holds a cool, green, fountain-like presence.
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Plant Details
Quick Information
- Latin Name: Clivia miniata
- Plant Family: Amaryllidaceae
- Common Names: Natal Lily, Bush Lily, Fire Lily, Clivia
- Origin / Native Range: Forests of eastern South Africa (Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga) and Eswatini
- Mature Height × Width: 1.5–2 ft × 2–3 ft
- Exposure Requirements: Dappled Shade to Filtered Shade
- Irrigation Requirements: Moderate
- USDA Hardiness Zones: 9–11
- Cold Hardiness: 25°F–30°F
- Bloom Time: Late Winter through Spring
- Bloom Color: Orange to Red-Orange with a Yellow Throat
General Information
Clivia miniata grows from a short, fleshy underground stem and a mass of thick white roots, not a true bulb. Broad, strap-shaped leaves rise in two neat ranks and form a fan that reads like a green fountain. A mature clump can hold a dozen or more leaves. Bloom stalks push up from the center and lift a rounded cluster, called an umbel, of ten to twenty florets. Once the flowers fade, round berries slowly turn from green to red over many months. Plants grow slowly and may take several years from seed to first bloom. Over time, side shoots crowd in, and the clump spreads wider than it is tall.
This plant is built for the forest floor. In the wild, it lives in the dappled shade of evergreen forests in eastern South Africa and Eswatini. There, it roots in humus-rich, well-drained soil, often in large colonies, and now and then in the crook of a tree. Its wide, dark leaves capture the thin light that filters through the canopy. The fleshy roots store water and food, which helps the plant coast through a dry winter rest. That same cool, dry spell is what sets its spring flowers. Clivia is tender to frost, so it suits gardens in zones 9 through 11. In colder regions, gardeners grow it in pots and shelter it indoors over winter. In the ground, it works well as a shade planting beneath trees or along a north-facing wall.
The genus honors Lady Charlotte Clive, an English gardener who first flowered a related species in cultivation in the early 1800s. Clivia belongs to the amaryllis family, so it shares strap leaves and trumpet blooms with amaryllis and nerine. Wild plants are almost always orange, though a rare yellow form occurs. Breeders have built on that base to create cream, peach, pink, and pale yellow selections. In South Africa, the plant is valued in traditional medicine, though every part is poisonous. All parts hold lycorine and related alkaloids, which are natural compounds that can cause harm if eaten. Swallowing plant tissue may bring on vomiting and stomach upset in people and pets. Wear gloves when dividing clumps, and keep the bright berries away from children and animals.
General Planting & Cultivation Information
Even drought-tolerant plants require regular watering until they are well established, good drainage is essential. If planting in containers, avoid pots without drainage holes.
Irrigate by watering deeply and then allowing the top several inches of soil to dry between waterings. This encourages the plant to send roots deep into the earth in search of moisture, helping it to become established, prevent root rot, build drought tolerance, and resilience to wind, heat, and cold.
The length of time between waterings will vary depending on your growing conditions and environment. Use a moisture meter for precise irrigation.
When planting, set the plant at the same depth as it was in its current container. For trees, ensure the top of the root flare is at soil level.
Young plants are vulnerable to harsh conditions, so consider growing them in larger containers until mature.
When planting in the ground, research the optimal planting season for your climate zone and protect young plants from frost.
To support establishment, consider creating a microclimate with nurse plants, shade, or wind protection. This can reduce stress, conserve soil moisture, and increase long-term success.
Protect the small, immature plants from rabbits and deer.
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