Clivia

Read about Clivia in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Clivia (after a Duchess of Northumberland and member of the Clive family). Syn., Imantophyllum. Amaryllidaceae. Tender bulbous plants with handsome evergreen foliage and showy, bright red or red and yellow flowers in large umbels. Bulb imperfect, mostly of old lf.-bases: perianth funnelform, curved or straight, the seems, much longer than the tube; ovules 5-6 in each cell: fr. a berry, differing in this from the capsular fr. of Nerine.—Three species from S. Afr. J. G. Baker. Amaryliideae, p. 61. Clivias make excellent house plants, but, like amaryllis, are too costly to be very popular. They have the advantage over amaryllis of having attractive foliage all the year round, and are more certain to bloom well. They have thick, fleshy roots, like an agapanthus. All the species are well worth growing, because of their handsome umbels of flowers, produced during the spring and early summer months. Clivia miniata is the species most commonly grown. There are several distinct forms of this, with larger and deeper colored flowers. Established plants may be grown in the same pots for several years, if the plants are fed during the growing period with weak liquid manure. In potting, the soil given should be of a lasting nature, not easily soured, nor likely to become sodden. In arranging the drainage, place one large piece, concave side down, over the hole, and around this arrange several smaller pieces. Over these place one or two handfuls of pieces small enough to go through a No. 2 sieve. The best time to pot is after the flowers have been produced. The plants should then be kept for some time in a humid atmosphere to encourage growth, receiving an abundance of water after they are well started. After growth has been completed, they will winter safely in an ordinary greenhouse temperature (not under 40°), if kept rather dry at the root. For propagation, choose old plants which have become crowded in their pots, so that the entire plant can be pulled to pieces. After trimming the roots, put the growths in small pots and keep in heat, to encourage root action. Clivias are well suited for planting permanently in the front part of greenhouse borders. The soil for this purpose should be rich and well firmed about the roots. Withhold water as much as possible during the resting period, or the plants will produce leaves at the expense of the flowers. (G. W. Oliver.) The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

? Clivia
Clivia miniata
Plant Info
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Liliopsida Order: Asparagales Family: Amaryllidaceae Genus: Clivia Lindl.
Species
C. caulescens C. gardenii C. miniata C. mirabilis C. nobilis C. robusta

Clivia is a genus of monocot flowering plants native to southern Africa. They are from the family Amaryllidaceae. Common name is Bush lily.

They are non-woody evergreen plant, with dark green, strap-like leaves. These leaves produce clusters bell-shaped flowers on a stalk above the foliage. The flowers somewhat resemble those of certain varieties of Lilium or Amaryllis. Orange is the most common colour but there are also Peach, Near White, Apricot, Red and Yellow varieties.

Of the six known species, Clivia miniata is the most widely cultivated, and hybrid varieties with flowers ranging from deep red-orange to pale yellow have been bred by growers around the world, particularly in South Africa, Australia, Japan, USA, Belgium, France and China.

C. miniata, C. gardenii, C. robusta and C. caulescens seedlings flower after three to four years, while the yellow varieties may take longer. C. nobilis will flower after seven or eight years. It is reported that C. mirabilis also takes about 6 years to flower.

Specimens were gathered by British explorers William Burchell and John Bowie in 1815 and 1820, respectively. Clivia nobilis became the first named species when in 1828 the Kew botanist John Lindley named it in honor of Lady Charlotte Florentia Clive, Duchess of Northumberland (1787-1866)., who was for a time the governess of the future Queen Victoria.