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Flame Lily Clivia miniata

Other Common Name(s):

Other plants called Flame Lily:

Phonetic Spelling
KLIV-ee-ah min-ee-AY-tah
This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
See below
Description

Flame lily is a broadleaf, evergreen, clumping perennial native to South Africa and in the  Amaryllidaceae (onion) family. 

In a tropical environment it requires dappled sunlight to deep shade. In North Carolina, where it is grown as a houseplant, morning sun is best. It prefers to be kept rootbound and can remain in the same pot for as long as five years. It is drought tolerant. Water early in the day and provide good air circulation Potted flame lily flowers best when given a dormant, rest period of a month or two with nighttime temperatures below 50 degrees. 

It takes a few years for a flame lily plant to bloom, so it is best to purchase a mature plant, unless you are very patient. The blooms are showy and long-lasting, usually an orange, white, or yellow color and lily-like in shape.The plant grows up to 2 feet high and 3 feet wide. 

Quick ID Hints:

  • Leaves are dark green, thick, and strap-like.
  • Leaves are glossy with a leathery texture. 

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Overwatering can cause crown rot. Overhead watering can cause leaf diseases such as rust. 

VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.   

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Longwood Debutante'
    Pale yellow flowers with a green throat
  • 'Longwood Fireworks'
    Pale yellow flowers with reflexed petals and extended stamens
  • 'Longwood Sunrise'
    Orange flowers with a yellow eyespot
'Longwood Debutante', 'Longwood Fireworks', 'Longwood Sunrise'
Tags:
#showy flowers#houseplant#drought tolerant#shade garden#showy leaves#orange flowers#showy fruits#problem for cats#ebh#ebh-h#problem for dogs#problem for horses#hsc#hsc-fl
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Longwood Debutante'
    Pale yellow flowers with a green throat
  • 'Longwood Fireworks'
    Pale yellow flowers with reflexed petals and extended stamens
  • 'Longwood Sunrise'
    Orange flowers with a yellow eyespot
'Longwood Debutante', 'Longwood Fireworks', 'Longwood Sunrise'
Tags:
#showy flowers#houseplant#drought tolerant#shade garden#showy leaves#orange flowers#showy fruits#problem for cats#ebh#ebh-h#problem for dogs#problem for horses#hsc#hsc-fl
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Clivia
    Species:
    miniata
    Family:
    Amaryllidaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Southern South Africa
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Houseplant
    Perennial
    Poisonous
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Erect
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Maintenance:
    Medium
    Texture:
    Coarse
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
    Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
    Soil Texture:
    Loam (Silt)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Red/Burgundy
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Fruit Type:
    Berry
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Seeds are large and round. They are borne in large, red, 1/2 in berries that ripen at least a year after the seed is set.
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Orange
    Red/Burgundy
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Umbel
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Good Cut
    Long-lasting
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
    Winter
    Flower Shape:
    Funnel
    Trumpet
    Tubular
    Flower Petals:
    6 petals/rays
    Flower Size:
    1-3 inches
    Flower Description:
    2-3 inch long funnel-shaped flowers in shades of yellow, orange, and red have 10-20 blooms in each florescence.
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Broadleaf Evergreen
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Leathery
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Rosulate
    Leaf Shape:
    Linear
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    1-3 inches
    Leaf Description:
    2-3 feet long, bright green, strap-like basal leaves.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Insignificant
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Description:
    Acaulescent, no visible stem
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Houseplants
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Problems:
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Dogs
  • Poisonous to Humans:
    Poison Severity:
    Low
    Poison Symptoms:
    Vomiting, salvation, diarrhea; large ingestions cause convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors, and cardiac arrhythmias. Bulbs are the most poisonous part.
    Poison Toxic Principle:
    Lycorine and other alkaloids
    Causes Contact Dermatitis:
    No
    Poison Part:
    Flowers
    Fruits
    Leaves
    Roots
    Seeds
    Stems