Flame Lily (Gloriosa superba)
Botanical Classification:
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Clade: Angiosperms
- Clade: Monocots
- Order: Liliales
- Family: Colchicaceae
- Genus: Gloriosa
- Species: Gloriosa superba
Gloriosa superba, commonly known as Flame Lily or Glory Lily, is part of the Colchicaceae family, which is known for its tuberous perennials with showy flowers.
The Flame Lily has a rich history across various cultures. In Africa, particularly in Zimbabwe, it’s the national flower and holds significant cultural symbolism. In India, it’s known for its use in traditional medicine (Ayurveda), where different parts of the plant have been used for centuries, though with caution due to its toxicity.
The name “superba” reflects the plant’s splendid appearance, and “Flame Lily” describes its fiery, red and yellow blooms. It has been recognized globally for both its aesthetic value and its potential medical uses, but also its dangers due to the presence of colchicine, a toxic alkaloid.
Originally from tropical Africa and Asia, Gloriosa superba has been transported and cultivated around the world for its ornamental beauty. However, it’s also become naturalized in other regions, sometimes considered invasive due to its ability to spread via seeds and tubers.
Flame Lily is suited to USDA Hardiness Zones 8-11. In these zones, it can be grown outdoors where it benefits from the warm, frost-free conditions that mimic its native tropical and subtropical environments.
In areas cooler than Zone 8, Gloriosa superba is typically grown as an annual or in containers that can be brought indoors during winter, as it’s sensitive to frost and cold.
Native to much of tropical and southern Africa, extending into Asia from India to Southeast Asia, Gloriosa superba grows in various habitats including forests, savannas, grasslands, and along coastal dunes, where it can climb or scramble over other vegetation. Due to its ornamental value, Flame Lily has been cultivated in many countries with suitable climates for growing exotic plants. It’s popular in botanical gardens and collectors’ gardens where its vibrant blooms can be showcased.
In regions where it’s not native, like parts of Australia and some Pacific islands, Gloriosa superba has established itself outside of cultivation, becoming invasive. Its ability to grow from tubers and seeds, combined with its climbing nature, allows it to spread rapidly in favorable conditions. The plant shows adaptability to different soil types, provided they are well-draining, and it prefers full sun to partial shade. Its climbing habit makes it versatile in landscape design where vertical interest is desired.
Characteristics
- Flowers: Flame Lily is renowned for its spectacular flowers, which have a distinctive flame-like shape. The blooms are large, up to 4 inches (10 cm) across, with wavy, reflexed petals that transition from red at the tips to yellow or orange at the base. Each flower has six petals, giving it a star-like appearance.
- Leaves: The foliage is lance-shaped and tends to be glossy, with a unique feature where the leaves end in a tendril that helps the plant climb or sprawl. The leaves are green, and the plant can reach lengths of up to 10 feet (3 meters) if supported.
- Growth Habit: Gloriosa superba is a vigorous climber or scrambler, using its leaf tendrils to attach to supports. It grows from a tuber, which allows it to die back to the ground each year in colder climates, only to regrow from the tuber in the spring.
- Toxicity: All parts of the plant are highly toxic due to colchicine, an alkaloid used in medicine but dangerous if ingested. This toxicity requires caution in handling and placement, especially in gardens accessible to children or pets.
Cultivation
- Light: Prefers full sun to partial shade. In very hot climates, some shade during the afternoon can prevent the flowers from fading.
- Soil: Requires well-draining soil, ideally sandy or loamy with good organic content. It’s adaptable but thrives best when the soil isn’t waterlogged, mimicking its natural habitats.
- Water: Water regularly during the growing season to keep the soil moist but not soggy. Reduce watering as the foliage begins to die back in preparation for dormancy. During dormancy, keep the soil slightly dry.
- Temperature: Ideal growth occurs in warm conditions, between 60-85°F (15-29°C). In colder zones, protect the tubers from frost or grow as an annual.
- Support: Since it’s a climber, provide a trellis, fence, or other support for the tendrils to cling to. This not only supports growth but enhances its ornamental display.
- Fertilization: Use a balanced fertilizer during the growing season to encourage robust growth and flowering. Avoid fertilizing when the plant is dormant.
- Mulching: A light mulch can help keep the soil moist around the tuber but be careful not to bury it too deeply, as this can inhibit growth.
Propagation
- Tubers: The primary method of propagation is through its tubers. In spring, after the last frost, plant tubers about 2 inches deep in well-draining soil. Each tuber can produce multiple shoots, and over time, they can be divided:
- Divide tubers when the plant is dormant, ensuring each section has at least one “eye” or growth point.
- Replant immediately or store in a cool, dry place until planting time.
- Seeds: Seed propagation is possible but less common due to longer germination times and inconsistent results in terms of preserving the parent plant’s traits. Seeds should be sown fresh as they don’t remain viable for long:
- Soak seeds for 24 hours before planting to improve germination.
- Sow in a warm, well-lit area, keeping the soil consistently moist until germination, which can take several weeks to months.
- Layering: Occasionally, a stem might naturally layer if it touches the ground, rooting at the nodes. This can be encouraged by pinning a part of the stem into the soil, allowing it to root before separating it from the parent plant.