Clivia (bush lily)

About Clivia (bush lily)

Clivia is an evergreen from the forests of southern Africa with arching, strap-shaped, glossy dark leaves and, in late winter or spring, a thick stalk topped with 12-20 orange to scarlet trumpets with yellow throats (NC State, Wisconsin Horticulture). It is a slow, long-lived plant that likes to be crowded in its pot and needs a cool, dry rest each fall and winter to bloom. It was named in 1828 for Lady Charlotte Clive, Duchess of Northumberland, who first flowered it in England (Wisconsin Horticulture).

Hardy outdoors only in zones 9-11 (NC State; Wisconsin Horticulture says 9-10); it is grown indoors everywhere and can summer outdoors in shade, then stay out into fall for the cool nights it needs, coming in before freezing weather (Wisconsin Horticulture).

When to plant

Timing is counted from your average last spring frost (and first fall frost). Sow & Tell works out the actual dates for your ZIP code.

Usually bought as a mature plant, since seedlings take years to flower, or started by dividing off offsets from an older clump (NC State, Wisconsin Horticulture).

Growing it indoors

• Light: Bright, diffused light from a north window or a shaded east or west window; morning sun is fine (NC State), but it rarely flowers in deep shade and hot sun burns the leaves (Wisconsin Horticulture).
• Water: During growth, water regularly and let the mix dry to the touch in between; during the fall-winter rest give only enough to keep the leaves from wilting, then water more once the flower stalk shows (Wisconsin Horticulture). Overwatering causes root and crown rot, and water early in the day so the leaves dry (NC State).
• Temperature: It needs cool nights below 50 F for its rest and tolerates about 36 F, but never freezing (Wisconsin Horticulture); after the rest, warm room temperatures are fine.
• Feeding: Feed a half-strength fertilizer monthly during the growing season and none at all during the fall-winter rest (Wisconsin Horticulture).
• Repotting: Repot only when the roots are badly crowded, since it blooms best slightly root-bound and can stay in one pot for up to five years; it can be divided and repotted at any time of year (NC State, Wisconsin Horticulture).

Soil

A well-drained potting mix; it does best kept slightly root-bound (Wisconsin Horticulture, NC State).

Pot in a well-drained potting mix in a pot just big enough; it blooms best slightly root-bound (Wisconsin Horticulture, NC State).

Feeding

• Spring and summer, during growth: houseplant fertilizer at half strength. Monthly (Wisconsin Horticulture).
• Fall and winter rest, about 6-8 weeks: none. No fertilizer and very little water while nights are below 50 F (Wisconsin Horticulture).
• When the flower stalk appears: none until growth resumes. Move it to room temperature and water more; resume monthly half-strength feeding with the new season's growth (Wisconsin Horticulture).

Skipping the cool, dry rest or keeping the mix wet is why most clivias don't bloom or rot (Wisconsin Horticulture, NC State).

Harvest

Blooms late winter to spring after a fall and winter rest of about 6-8 weeks with nights below 50 F, very little water and no fertilizer; bring it back to room temperature and normal watering when the flower stalk appears (Wisconsin Horticulture, NC State). The cluster opens in succession over several weeks; cut the stalk at its base afterward unless you want the red berries, which take almost a year to ripen.

Varieties (8)

NC State and Wisconsin Horticulture name 6 cultivars, the yellow form and the best-known hybrid.

Pests to watch for

Mealybugs, Scale insects, Brown garden snail

Diseases and problems

Root and crown rot, Crown rot, Rust

In the kitchen

Safety: Low-severity poison (NC State): it contains lycorine and other alkaloids, most concentrated in the thick base, and eating it causes vomiting, drooling and diarrhea; large amounts can bring convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors and heart rhythm problems. Wisconsin Horticulture notes a large amount must be eaten to cause symptoms. Keep it away from small children.

Pets: Toxic to dogs, cats and horses (ASPCA, listed as Kaffir lily and clivia lily): lycorine and other alkaloids cause vomiting, drooling and diarrhea, and large amounts can cause convulsions, low blood pressure, tremors and heart arrhythmias; the bulbous base is the most poisonous part.