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 Debutante', 'Longwood Fireworks', 'Longwood Sunrise'
- Tags:
- 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 Debutante', 'Longwood Fireworks', 'Longwood Sunrise'
- Tags:
-
-
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.
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-
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
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-
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
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-
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.
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-
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.
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-
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
